The Butler Institute of American Art

The Butler Institute of American Art The first museum dedicated to collecting and preserving American art since 1919

🎟️ free admission
(246)

Non-profit organization providing docent-guided tours, art education outreach programs, free on-site art programs, art classes, exhibitions, meet-the-artist events, and more!

- Free admission -

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09/01/2026

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LAST CHANCE—89th National Midyear 🔆 This is the last weekend to come see this exhibition featuring contemporary artists ...
08/29/2026

LAST CHANCE—89th National Midyear 🔆 This is the last weekend to come see this exhibition featuring contemporary artists from across the nation. Talent runs deep in this show. Don’t miss out!

On view through Sunday, August 30th.

The Butler Institute is saddened to hear the news of Yayoi Kusama’s passing.  Today, we are honoring Yayoi Kusama’s lega...
08/27/2026

The Butler Institute is saddened to hear the news of Yayoi Kusama’s passing.
 
Today, we are honoring Yayoi Kusama’s legacy as one of the most respected and widely exhibited contemporary artists. Drawing inspiration from her experiences with hallucinations, Kusama used dots and repetitive marks throughout her career to create mesmerizing and vibrant paintings and installations.
 
Here, we are sharing a rare look at several of her earliest artworks from our permanent collection, which contains more than 20 of her works in total.
 
“I will keep on making my art until the day I die. And even after I die, my spirit will keep creating new art.” –Yayoi Kusama
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Yayoi Kusama, Untitled, 1954, Pastel and watercolor on paper, 24 x 18”, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Tepper 1968.

Yayoi Kusama, Old Flame, 1953, Pastel and watercolor on paper, 11 5/8 x 8 7/8”, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Tepper 1968.

Yayoi Kusama, Untitled, 1954, Pastel and watercolor on paper, 24 x 18”, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Tepper 1968.

Yayoi Kusama, Flower No. 5, 1953, Pastel and watercolor on paper, 12 x 9 1/8”, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Tepper 1968.

Yayoi Kusama, Ups and Downs, 1955, Pastel and watercolor on paper, 14 1/8 x 10”, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Tepper 1968.

🎨 CALL FOR ART — 87TH AREA ARTIST ANNUALCalling all artists within a 75-mile radius of the Butler Institute of American ...
08/16/2026

🎨 CALL FOR ART — 87TH AREA ARTIST ANNUAL

Calling all artists within a 75-mile radius of the Butler Institute of American Art! Ready to see your work on the walls of the museum? This is your chance to enter the 87th Area Artist Annual.
 
Eligible media includes oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, photography, ceramics, sculpture, drawing/illustration, and printmaking.
 
This year’s juror—Michael Gill 🏆 Co-founder of Collective Arts Network and founding editor/publisher of CAN Journal. An award-winning arts writer, administrator, and artist.

✨ Exhibition opens December 13th from 1-3pm with an awards ceremony at 2pm.

đź“Ł ENTER ONLINE TODAY!
$30 entry fee • Deadline: September 27th

đź”— Full details & prospectus: https://butlerart.com/exhibits/87th-area-artist-annual/
 

08/13/2026

What would you create? ✨

08/12/2026

Summer Visual Arts Day Camp 2026 – Travel Through America as We Celebrate 250 Years! 🇺🇸

This year’s summer camp celebrated America 250 by reflecting on our nation’s past, honoring the contributions of all Americans, and looking toward the future we hope to create for generations to come.

Campers explored 2D and 3D techniques in drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Inspired by works in the Butler’s permanent collection dating back to this historic era, they embraced creativity and self-expression while creating their own works of art.

The two-week camp wrapped up with an Art Extravaganza Exhibition celebrating the incredible artwork created throughout their experience at the Butler.

Congratulations to our wonderful teachers, campers, and our Outstanding Craftsmanship Award winners, Amy Zhang and Sylvie Amicucci! 🎨✨



Congratulations to the Invited Artists of the 89th National Midyear Exhibition! 🎉 This year the Butler has revived the t...
08/11/2026

Congratulations to the Invited Artists of the 89th National Midyear Exhibition! 🎉
 
This year the Butler has revived the tradition of invited artists. The Midyear Committee selected two contemporary professional artists to be featured alongside the juried exhibition. Each artist has three paintings on display.
 
Nancy Hawkins (Columbiana, OH) is a plein air painter whose work celebrates the landscapes of eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Working primarily in oil, she is known for capturing the beauty in the subtle effects of light, atmosphere, and season through direct observation of the natural world. Her award-winning work is held in numerous public and private collections.
 
Christopher Leeper (Canfield, OH) is a realist painter and workshop instructor, painting in all mediums. He participates frequently in national juried and invitational plein air events. His award-winning work has been shown in solo and juried exhibitions throughout the country.
 
🗓️ On view through August 30th

We’re excited to share that the Butler Institute of American Art has been awarded a FY2027 Sustainability Grant from the...
08/05/2026

We’re excited to share that the Butler Institute of American Art has been awarded a FY2027 Sustainability Grant from the Ohio Arts Council! 🏆🏛️
 
This generous $104,540 grant helps us continue our mission to preserve, exhibit, and celebrate American art while providing engaging exhibitions, educational programs, and meaningful community experiences. This year, the Ohio Arts Council approved $23.2 million in grants to support artists, arts and cultural organizations, nonprofits, students, educators, and public arts programming across the state.
 
We are deeply grateful to the Ohio Arts Council for its continued investment in the arts and for helping ensure that creativity and culture continue to thrive in Youngstown and throughout Ohio.
 
Ohio Arts Council
 

 
This sustainability grant is made possible in part by an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

Happy 150th Birthday to Margaret Evans—the Butler’s first Director and the first woman to lead the museum! 🎉🏛️When the B...
08/04/2026

Happy 150th Birthday to Margaret Evans—the Butler’s first Director and the first woman to lead the museum! 🎉🏛️

When the Butler Institute of American Art opened its doors in 1919, Margaret Evans was appointed Director, becoming the guiding force behind the museum’s early success. While Joseph G. Butler, Jr. founded the institution, Miss Evans helped build it into a thriving center for art and education in the Mahoning Valley.

A 1922 newspaper described Evans as “another woman who has made good—her influence is potent.” It continued: “Her work is pioneer. There were no precedents here. Miss Evans had a clear field to work in and she exerted all of her efforts and influence for the best things in life.”

During her tenure, Evans planned traveling exhibitions, managed the permanent collection, curated galleries, and taught art classes. Beyond the Butler, she also helped establish Youngstown State University’s art department alongside then-president Howard Jones.

Today, on the 150th anniversary of her birth, we celebrate Margaret Evans’ vision, leadership, and lasting impact on the Butler and the cultural life of Youngstown.🥂
 

Address

524 Wick Avenue
Youngstown, OH
44502

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 4pm
Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

(330) 743-1107

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