New Permanent Collection Installation Highlights the Lasting Legacy ofWestern Pennsylvania’s Industrial Past and Features Sculpture by 2025 Heinz Award for the Arts Recipient Marie Watt
GREENSBURG, Pennsylvania (October 1, 2025) — The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is proud to announce the opening of a new permanent collection installation, Steel Valley Visions: An American Legacy. This installation brings together historical and contemporary works of art that reflect on western Pennsylvania’s industrial past and the role the Big Steel Era played in shaping modern America. A sculpture by contemporary artist Marie Watt, a 2025 recipient of the prestigious Heinz Award for the Arts, is featured in the installation. Steel Valley Visions opens on Saturday, October 4, and will remain on view through Sunday, February 2, 2027.
“This fall marks the start of our contribution to the national commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. As part of this multi-year effort, we are proud to present Steel Valley Visions, which explores the contributions of the people and industries of our region to the American story,” said Dr. Silvia Filippini-Fantoni, Director/CEO.
“The Big Steel Era in western Pennsylvania captivated artists throughout that time as well as today,” said Dr. Erica Nuckles, Director of Learning, Engagement, and Partnerships, who curated Steel Valley Visions. “A century after its peak and decades after most of the mills and mines have gone quiet, the Steel Valley continues to inspire artists as it remains a powerful symbol of American ambition, resilience, and transformation.”
The Westmoreland’s permanent collection is well known for its strong focus on scenes of industry. Two decades ago, the Museum organized a major exhibition and catalog of this art, titled Born of Fire: The Valley of Work, which traveled internationally. Following the success of that exhibition, related works have been added to the Museum’s collection, including those that tell the human story of America’s Industrial Revolution, namely of the immigrants and migrants that flocked to the region seeking job opportunities in the coal mines and steel mills. Today, contemporary artists continue to draw inspiration from this legacy, responding not only to the imagery of the past but also to the raw materials and labor that powered the Industrial Revolution.
In Steel Valley Visions, select works from Born of Fire are presented with more recent acquisitions and key loans to tell this important story from many perspectives. Visitors will experience familiar favorites by artists, like Aaron Harry Gorson, Otto August Kuhler, Francis Komperda, Virginia Cuthbert, and Aaronel deRoy Gruber, along with works by contemporary artists Marie Watt, Stephen Towns, Sophie Glenn, and Alan Shepp, among many others.
Marie Watt’s Skywalker Greets Sunrise VI, a powerful steel I-beam sculpture featured in Steel Valley Visions, was recently gifted to The Westmoreland by Dawn and Chris Fleischner after being acquired from Catharine Clark Gallery. It honors the Mohawk skywalkers, who constructed New York City’s iconic skyscrapers and bridges, a tradition that continues today. Watt, a leading contemporary artist and member of the Seneca Nation, explores themes of community, resilience, and Indigenous knowledge. Skywalker Greets Sunrise VI is an important addition to the Museum’s permanent collection, deepening The Westmoreland’s engagement with underrepresented voices in American art. In September, Watt was named a recipient of the prestigious 30th Heinz Award for the Arts with an unrestricted $250,000 cash prize. Her work is held in major institutions, including the Whitney Museum of American Art and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Steel Valley Visions also features a listening lounge with songs from the Big Steel Era, as well as an interactive area that allows visitors to reflect on and share their own connections to Steel Valley history. An immersive experience related to the exhibition will debut at the end of January 2026.
Steel Valley Visions: An American Legacy is made possible by generous support from the Hillman Foundation and The Heinz Endowments.
About The Westmoreland Museum of American Art
Western Pennsylvania’s only museum dedicated to American art, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, offers meaningful and engaging cultural experiences that build community and inspire creativity, new ideas, and action through the power of art. The Westmoreland’s extraordinary permanent collection, with its strong focus on the art and artists of Southwestern Pennsylvania, is complemented by an impressive temporary exhibition schedule featuring both nationally traveling exhibitions and those organized by the Museum. Additionally, The Westmoreland presents a full slate of community-oriented events.
General admission to the Museum is free. The Museum’s operating hours are September–May: Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm; June–August: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10am–5pm and Friday, 12-7pm. The Museum is closed Monday and Tuesday and on New Year’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
For more information, visit thewestmoreland.org.
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