Anno Artem

06/18/2026

"None of the funds authorized to be appropriated pursuant to this act, may be used to promote, disseminate, or produce (1) obscene or indecent materials, including but not limited to depictions of sadomasochism, homoeroticism, the exploitation of children or individuals engaged in s*x acts."

Want to know what exhibition inspired this congressional amendment, a last minute museum cancellation and the arrest and trial of a another museum's curator? Thursday night were not just gonna talk about it. At Sen. Jesse Helms suggestion, we're gonna look at the pictures.

" The Perfect Controversy" - An Anno Artem Art Talk
Thursday June 18, 6:00 PM
Pay what you wish. Free parking out front. 18+

Jesse Helms “look at the pictures!” Andres Serrano and Robert Mapplethorpe mentioned. Statement on interior appropriations committee, including Pat Williams (D-MT). Helms tells stories and pontificates on the NEA, taxpayers, and obscene art.

06/14/2026

Thursday evening at 6:00 at Anno Artem Gallery, as part of our "(Dis) Appearance" show and celebration of pride month, we'll be discussing Robert Mapplethorpe's "The Perfect Moment" exhibition.

Robert Mapplethorpe was a fearless artist who was able to photograph New York socialites and underground s*x clubs and flowers with same brilliant sense of drama in his composition and lighting. He was also a gay man living through the worst of the AIDS epidemic that people were still calling “gay cancer”. So when a retrospective of his work was scheduled to tour museums as he himself was dying of the disease, he became the lighting rod for the scorn of politicians and religious figures who saw him as everything that was wrong with society’s acceptance of homos*xuality, and art.

What followed was a maelstrom of controversy and government censorship that involved a police raid, the arrest of a museum director, cancellations, Jesse Helms, and a famous bullwhip.

We’ll be giving a talk on this exhibition with original materials from the museum at the middle of it, and images from the three portfolios so you can decide for yourself if all the controversy was warranted.

Pay what you wish. Trigger warning: Images of nudity, extreme s*xual acts, and flowers

06/13/2026

Come down to Pottstown Juneteenth Community Celebration and add your art to "Open Doors" a public art installation by Anno Artem Gallery. We're right down by the stage in the middle of High St. Art, music, food, bounce house, a petting zoo(!) It's a giant party celebrating Juneteenth!

06/11/2026

Tonight at 6:00 is our artist reception for "(Dis)Appearance", an exhibition celebrating Pride Month curated by Lauren Ariel.

Along with the six artists showing their physical works, we'll have Rowan Briggs presenting a talk on their graphic novel work and a poetry reading by Maddie.

Artists presenting:
Robert Pierce
Devon Trout
Jessica Reitmeyer
Rowan Briggs
Laurel Ariel
Ana Chow

1 Security Plaza Suite 202. Free parking in our lot right out front.

06/03/2026

Come see us on Saturday for Pottstown Nights - Art Showcase

06/03/2026

It's gonna be a busy week at Anno Artem Gallery. Saturday the 6th we're sponsoring the Pottstown Nights Art Showcase. Artist vendors, music, comedy, and our resident artists will have a tent with art for sale and live painting by Amber Staedtler ( ). 3-9 pm at Smith Family Plaza in Pottstown.

Next Wednesday the 10th is our next Art Analysis critique night hosted by resident artist Michael Kenny (.kenny.made ). Send a DM or an email to [email protected] to register to present or just discuss.

Then next week Thursday, the 11th from 6-9 is the opening of "(Dis) Appearance", Anno Artem's pride themed exhibition curated by Phoenixville artist Lauren Ariel (.ariel ). Painting, photography, glass, poetry, books... we're representing the spectrum.

05/31/2026

This is your last chance to see "Resist!" from 11-6 today. Come in and support these artists' brave work before it's gone.

Open 11-6
1 Security Plaza Suite 202
Free parking right outside the door

05/29/2026

Tomorrow (Saturday) is our monthly Figure Drawing at the Train Station session and we're welcoming back of our dear friends to model: Jessica Reitmeyer ( ). Hosted by our resident artist Amber Staedtler ( ).
Link for tickets: https://www.annoartem.com/events-1/may2026figuredrawing

This is also the last weekend for "Resist!", so get in to see it before we close on Sunday.

Open 11-6 Thurs-Sun

05/28/2026

A NYC gallery has created much controversy recently by putting up for sale this image, originally entitled "Moonrise", and created by Ansel Adams, but regenerated as colorized by an AI program directed by a prompt from the gallery owner. The original image has fallen into public domain, but does a gallery have a responsibility to honor the artists intent? Does this constitute a transformative use ethically even if it's legal? Ironically, the supreme court has ruled that AI generated images cannot be copyrighted, so this generated image should be also free to use.

Our AI policy is that we don't accept completely AI generated items to show or sell. Works with AI generated elements are accepted in the tradition of collage/mixed media. We also are strong advocates for copyright protection for artists, but also support artistic works becoming public domain after an appropriate time. So we're following all aspects of this story.

What are your thoughts?

https://petapixel.com/2026/05/26/nyc-gallery-says-it-has-every-right-to-create-ai-version-of-iconic-ansel-adams-photo/