The Westmoreland Opens Two New Exhibitions Highlighting Women Artists
GREENSBURG, Pennsylvania (August 28, 2025) — The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is proud to announce the opening of two exhibitions, The Art of Elizabeth Catlett from the Collection of Samella Lewis and Brynn Hurlstone: Resonance, as part of its ongoing Year of Women Artists initiative. Both exhibitions open on Sunday, September 7, 2025, and remain on view through Sunday, January 4, 2026.
“In this Year of Women Artists, it’s especially meaningful to present the work of Elizabeth Catlett and Brynn Hurlstone—two remarkable artists who not only have broken barriers as women in the art world, but who also place women, their stories, and their struggles at the very heart of their practice. Through their art, they invite us to reflect, empathize, and take action, reminding us of the transformative power of women’s voices in shaping culture and society,” said Silvia Filippini-Fantoni, Director/CEO of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art.
The Art of Elizabeth Catlett from the Collection of Samella Lewis celebrates Elizabeth Catlett’s (1915–2012) extraordinary achievements in sculpture and printmaking and honors a half century of her artistic activism in support of women. This exhibition, organized by Landau Travelling Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA, is curated locally by The Westmoreland in collaboration with Dr. Grace Hampton, professor emerita at Penn State University. Reflecting on the exhibition, Dr. Hampton said, “I’m excited to help people understand the importance of Catlett’s work—who she was and the contribution she made, not just to African American art, but to the art field in general.”
A trailblazing sculptor and printmaker, Catlett spent seven decades creating art that honored the dignity and strength of marginalized communities. Her powerful depictions of laborers, women, and African Americans address social issues relevant in both the United States and Mexico—two countries where she resided during her lifetime.
Drawn from the collection of Dr. Samella Lewis (1924–2022)—an artist, historian, and Catlett’s former student—this exhibition highlights Catlett’s impact as an artist and educator. It celebrates her lasting influence and the ways she merged art and activism to inspire change.
Brynn Hurlstone: Resonance is an interactive exhibition that addresses the pervasive, yet often unseen, issue of domestic violence. A transdisciplinary artist, Hurlstone uses reactive materials— steel, glass, water, salt, silk, and water-soluble paper—to create an environment that she describes as being “alive, in continual transformation, and activated by human presence.” Through this installation, Hurlstone asks visitors to risk proximity with the precarious by encouraging what is normally forbidden—touching and stepping on art in a museum gallery. She creates a space where vulnerability and resilience coexist. Visitors must overcome their fear of doing the wrong thing as they interact with the art. In turn, they become part of the transformation of the environment through their thoughtful exploration of the space. For example, visitors can step on steel plates, causing water to spill from glass vessels, which creates rust patterns that develop over time. Visitors also engage with the work simply by walking through the space, as the gentle breeze created by walking ruffles delicate silk panels, slowly fraying their edges.
The exhibition deals with sensitive topics that may be distressing for some visitors. The Westmoreland partnered with the Blackburn Center, which provides services to survivors and victims of domestic and other types of violence in Westmoreland County, for staff training ahead of the presentation. Additionally, the Blackburn Center hotline information will be included within the exhibition for anyone who would like to speak with a trained crisis counselor.
The Westmoreland invites the public to experience these compelling exhibitions and to join the Museum for a free Curator & Artist Talk with Dr. Grace Hampton and Brynn Hurlstone on Sunday, September 7, from 3 to 4:30pm in the Museum’s Paul and Carol Evanson Community Room.
The Art of Elizabeth Catlett from the Collection of Samella Lewis and Brynn Hurlstone: Resonance is generously supported by the Hillman Foundation and The Heinz Endowments. Additional support for The Art of Elizabeth Catlett from the Collection of Samella Lewis is provided by Arts, Equity, & Education Fund™ and the Westmoreland County Tourism Grant 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, 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. For more information, visit thewestmoreland.org.
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