Think Spring with the Return of The Westmoreland’s Popular Art in Bloom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Claire Ertl
certl@thewestmoreland.org
724.837.1500 x128
This year’s presentation includes special guest designers Barb Grossman and Sidney Rice collaborating on a floral-themed gown inspired by the Museum’s Chihuly Chandelier
GREENSBURG, Pennsylvania (March 10, 2026) – The Westmoreland Museum of American Art invites you to think spring and escape the long winter with their third annual Art in Bloom, presented for five days from Wednesday, March 25, through Sunday, March 29, 2026. During Art in Bloom 2026, visitors will experience new incredible floral displays by 20 talented designers, all inspired by works of art in the Museum’s galleries.
Art in Bloom has become a popular annual spring tradition at The Westmoreland, enlisting the talents of regional floral designers to interpret works of art on view at the Museum into imaginative displays using flowers and other plant material as their medium. The Art in Bloom designers are chosen through a call for artists and are assigned an artwork at random from a list of select works. The floral installations provide a wonderful entry point for visitors to further engage with the art that has served as the inspiration behind the creations.
“We are very much looking forward to the return of Art in Bloom and welcoming thousands of visitors to experience works of art brought to life through beautiful floral interpretations,” commented The Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO Silvia Filippini-Fantoni, PhD. “This year, I am especially excited by the dynamic connection with fashion, which adds a fresh creative dimension and highlights the shared language of art, design, and floral artistry.”
A special feature of this year’s celebration is a floral-themed gown inspired by the Museum’s Dale Chihuly chandelier and co-created by Barb Grossman and Sidney Rice, two Pittsburgh-based garment designers. Created using silks, taffeta, organza, ribbons, and sparkling features alongside natural material supplied by Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the piece blurs boundaries at the intersection of costume, sculpture, and floral installation. Another gown featuring floral-inspired embellishments and created independently by Rice, who is a high school student at North Allegheny School District, will also be on view.
All Art in Bloom attendees have the opportunity to vote on their favorite floral installation for the People’s Choice Award, which is tallied on Sunday afternoon and posted to the Museum’s website and social media. In addition to viewing the vibrant floral displays, Art in Bloom includes special flower-themed events, including a floral design workshop, two after-hours events, and two tea parties with floral demonstrations. More information on these events and registration links are included below.
Art in Bloom Schedule:
Wednesday, March 25 through Sunday, March 29, 2026
10am-5pm
(Plus, special evening hours on Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27, for Flowers After Hours from 5:30 to 8pm.)
Admission:
> Wednesday, March 25, Thursday, March 26, Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28
Museum Members FREE* / Non-member Adults $10 / Non-member Children $5 / Children ages 3 & under free
*Members at the Individual Membership level receive 1 free ticket; Members at the Family Membership level and higher receive up to 5 free tickets.
> Sunday, March 29
FREE admission for all, plus these special happenings:
- Visitors will have the opportunity to meet some of the floral designers in the galleries.
- Young visitors (and those young at heart) can complete a Museum scavenger hunt to receive a packet of flower seeds (while supplies last).
- Members of the Garden Club of McKeesport will be on site to offer gardening and flower resources.
- From 11am to 3pm, Sun Dawg Café will offer food for purchase at the Museum, including gourmet sandwich wraps and other elevated sweet and savory grab-n-go items.
Art in Bloom Special Events:
> Floral Workshop – Lei Po’o: A Traditional Hawaiian Headpiece – (Thursday, March 26, 11am-1pm, $100 Museum Members / $125 Non-members, Registration Deadline: March 19)
Floral designer Lee Intachai of Gracefully Bloomed Creations offers an immersive, hands-on experience in the art of Hawaiian floral crafts, focusing on the creation of lei po’o (flower crowns). Includes access to Art in Bloom.
> Flowers After Hours (Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27, 5:30-8pm, $5 Museum Members / $15 Non-members)
Show off your petal power and don your boldest floral attire while you explore the Museum after hours, enjoying live music, sipping on a signature floral cocktail from the cash bar. Includes access to Art in Bloom.
> Tea Party & Floral Demonstration (Saturday, March 28, 10:30am-12:30pm and 2:30-4:30pm, $50 Museum Members / $60 Non-members, Registration Deadline: March 20)
Enjoy a three-course elevated tea service by Chef Lisa Houser of Myriam’s Table and learn about the art of floral arranging with special guest florist JD Peterson. Includes access to Art in Bloom.
Museum Amenities:
Throughout Art in Bloom, visitors will discover a curated selection of floral-themed home décor, accessories, and artisan creations in the Museum Shop, plus special pop-ups every day featuring local artisans (see Museum website for an up-to-date schedule). Additionally, visitors can enjoy floral-inspired drinks and sweet treats at Café Marchand.
Participating Floral Designers:
A Pretty Flower
Bella Florals
Blooming Row
Blooms and Beans Flowers
Catchfly Gardens
Compass Rose Floral Design
Enchanted Florist
Fleur-de-Laur
Galleria Botanica
Hidden JEM Farm
JD Peterson
Lea’s Floral Shop
Luna Joy Flower Farm
Mary Beth McConahey
One Happy Flower Shop
Philo Supply Company
Rainy Day Floral Company
Steel City Florals
Sugar Magnolia Blooms
The Trojan Florist
Thank you to the Museum’s 2026 Corporate Partners for their support of this year’s Art in Bloom.
Generous support for the Art in Bloom: Free Day on Sunday, March 29, 2026, provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.
Art in Bloom: Free Day is sponsored by Valley School of Ligonier.
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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 calendar of community-oriented and family-friendly experiences.
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