Experience a new exhibit that will immerse visitors in the vibrancy and power of nature, as interpreted through the work of Delaware-based fine artist Eileen Olson. Nature in The Abstract: The Art of Eileen Olson features the unique abstract expressionist style Eileen is known for, and it will include brand new works debuting at the… Read more »

Featured in the museum’s Welcome Gallery, the Student Art Show is a non-competitive display of student artwork open to all students (PreK – Grade 12) in public and private schools, as well as home-schooled students. Showcasing hundreds of pieces of art, the theme for this year’s Student Art Show is “Living Patterns” – because if… Read more »

From emancipation in Maryland, to life as a young woman in the 1960s, to Black watermen of the Chesapeake—the story quilts of Dr. Joan Gaither tell powerful biographical stories of her life, the lives of those around her, and the lives of those who came before her. An artist, educator, and 2017 Maryland Heritage Award… Read more »

April 2020 will bring the 50th annual Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition and Art Festival. In celebration of this milestone, the Ward Museum’s LaMay Gallery will feature some of the “Best in World” winning pieces, starting with the very first from 1971. See some of the finest examples of gunning decoys and many of… Read more »

After the Civil War, oyster harvesting exploded in the Chesapeake Bay, with watermen attempting to meet the demand of restaurants in major East Coast cities such as New York and Philadelphia. Many men from Virginia to New England set their eyes on the Chesapeake, and tried to claim a piece of it as their own…. Read more »

Bold, bright colors, fanciful images, clever brand names, and strong graphic design dominate the look of historical oyster cans. Reflecting an aspect of competition in the industry, the art of oyster cans demonstrates the creativity and that can come from economic stresses and cultural references. This exhibit in the Ward Museum’s Welcome Gallery will feature… Read more »

Many of the volunteers at the Ward Museum are accomplished artists themselves. The Welcome Gallery features a collection of works made using a variety of media and techniques by our dedicated volunteers.

The area surrounding the Chesapeake Bay has a distinct visual appeal that is centered on the iconic images of the Bay, its people, and the incredibly diverse bounty of both the water and land. From the arch of the Bay Bridge rising over the Chesapeake to the Ward Brothers in their workshop, this exhibit features… Read more »

Robert W. Hines was a wildlife artist who embodied the visual aspects of the federal conservation movement. This exhibit draws from an important collection of works donated to the museum by Frances B. Juriga and Dr. John D. Juriga of Elmyra, NY, longtime collectors, biographers, and enthusiasts of Hines’ work. As an illustrator, Hines was… Read more »

The Annual Student Art Show at the Ward Museum brings together a wide range of student artists, focused on a specific theme. 2019’s theme is “How We Live with Nature,” focusing on the everyday landscapes of our communities and how each person interacts with it. These projects are intended to be multi-disciplinary, combining diverse forms… Read more »