The Westmoreland Announced as New Partner for the National Gallery of Art Across the Nation Lending Program and Will Receive Four Georgia O’Keeffe Paintings on Loan for Two Years
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Claire Ertl
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GREENSBURG, PA (November 13, 2026) – The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is excited to be selected by the National Gallery of Art for the second phase of the Across the Nation lending program, which will bring masterworks from the National Gallery’s collection to eight new partner museums across the United States. Launched in 2025 to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, the program is endowed by a monumental gift from The Mitchell P. Rales Family Foundation, ensuring continued access to the National Gallery’s collection at regional museums throughout the country, at no cost to partner venues. After reaching over one million Americans in 10 states during the program’s pilot, Across the Nation will now expand its reach to Alabama, California, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.
In addition to The Westmoreland, the other partner museums chosen for the second program cycle are Crocker Art Museum (Sacramento, CA), Dayton Art Institute (Dayton, OH), El Paso Museum of Art (El Paso, TX), Gilcrease Museum (Tulsa, OK), Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (Madison, WI), Mobile Museum of Art (Mobile, AL), and South Dakota Art Museum (South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD). Each museum will receive masterpieces from the National Gallery’s collection, including contemporary and historical works spanning painting, sculpture, video, and installation. Partner museum presentations will begin in the summer and fall of 2027 and will remain on view until 2029.
“Everyone deserves to experience the awe-inspiring power of art. Through Across the Nation, we are proud to extend the reach of the nation’s art collection by bringing incredible works of art from throughout history directly into American communities together with our partner museums. It is an honor for the National Gallery to partner with our valued colleagues from museums located in communities across America,” said Kaywin Feldman, Director of the National Gallery of Art. “We’ve been thrilled to witness the positive impact and new connections generated by the program’s pilot. This would not be possible without the generosity of Mitchell P. Rales, whose historic gift will allow the program to continue expanding access to defining works of art for generations to come.”
The Westmoreland will receive four paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986), one of the most influential figures in twentieth-century American art, which will be on view at the Museum beginning in September 2027 through 2029. The four works—Wall with Green Door (1953), Grey Tree by the Road (1952), Winter Road I (1963), and Line and Curve (1927)—provide a compelling exploration of O’Keeffe’s relationship to the architecture, landscape, and formal qualities of northern New Mexico. As an accompaniment to the paintings, The Westmoreland will present a new immersive experience that gives an intimate view of O’Keeffe’s home in Abiquiú, New Mexico and the surrounding landscapes. Through contemporary footage of the region, images of her paintings superimposed upon the landscapes that inspired them, and archival recordings of the artist discussing her work, the immersive experience invites visitors to discover the environment that shaped O’Keeffe’s artistic vision. Together, the paintings and immersive experience will create a meaningful examination of O’Keeffe’s artistic legacy.
“We are thrilled to have been selected as a participant in the Across the Nation lending program and to receive these wonderful Georgia O’Keeffe works,” stated Nicole Lampl, Curator of American Art. “Presented as a focused installation in the gallery adjacent to the immersive experience, the paintings on loan from the National Gallery will provide an opportunity to engage directly with original works that illuminate O’Keeffe’s artistic development and connection to place.”
The National Gallery collaborates with partner museums on Across the Nation, drawing on their knowledge of their collections and communities. Through the program, each partner institution has selected two to five works from the National Gallery’s collection that will resonate with local audiences, create new opportunities for connection with concurrent installations and their permanent collections, and broaden opportunities for educational programs. The National Gallery removes the financial and logistical barriers that can make loans of this scale difficult for many museums, fully underwriting the transportation, installation, and insurance for the loans, and providing additional funding for training and local marketing campaigns. Additionally, the museum works with each partner to develop digital, scholarly, and educational programming tailored to its presentation, informed by the expertise of National Gallery conservation, curatorial, and programming staff.
Thanks to a transformational gift of $116 million from The Mitchell P. Rales Family Foundation, Across the Nation will continue in perpetuity. Now expanding its reach to 18 states, the National Gallery will lend art to all 50 states within the first decade of the program.
About The Westmoreland Museum of American Art
Western Pennsylvania’s only museum dedicated to American art, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, PA, 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 events and family-friendly experiences. General admission to the Museum is free with the exception of festival experiences, including the annual Art in Bloom (March 17-21, 2027). For more information, visit thewestmoreland.org.
About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, is the nation’s art museum, home to a renowned collection of over 160,000 works of art, from antiquity to today. Each year, the museum welcomes millions of people in person and online to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Located on the National Mall, admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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