On Saturday, September 7, Norman Rockwell Museum hosted its second United States Citizenship Naturalization Ceremony, held against the backdrop of Norman Rockwell's iconic artwork. Presented once again in partnership with the Berkshire Immigrant Center, the ceremony welcomed 26 new American citizens, residing in the Berkshires and other nearby Massachusetts cities and towns.

Continuing its partnership with Google Art Project, Norman Rockwell Museum took part in its first live Art Talk with Google+ users on September 12, 2013. Museum curators Stephanie Plunkett and Joyce K. Schiller, PhD., addressed an online audience of about 400 users on the topic of Norman Rockwell's artistic inspirations and borrowings, using visuals to communicate the illustrator's knowledge and respect for art history.

"The pyramid of toys in Jarvis’s first Maya show, and in subsequent iterations, symbolizes the fantasies we create for ourselves about the world," observes daughter/artist Daisy Rockwell. "Toys, action figures, cartoon characters are concrete and often indestructible manifestations of the imaginary world of maya that humans have constructed and which obstructs our ability to see what is really before us and beyond us."

Photo of Thomas and Norman Rockwell working on “My Adventures as an Illustrator,” 1960. Photo by William Tague. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

In his 1960 autobiography, My Adventures as an Illustrator, Norman Rockwell provides a revealing chapter that documents his process of creating the iconic painting, Family Tree (1959).

Keeping with the family theme, Rockwell’s son Tom, […]

Today marks the opening of one of Norman Rockwell Museum's most successful traveling exhibitions, Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney, on view through September 22, 2013, at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It's also a special occasion for the fact that the beloved children's book illustrator originally hails from "The City of Brotherly Love."

Norman Rockwell Museum looks forward to welcoming back all former Norman Rockwell models during our special star-spangled family day to be held on Saturday, July 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrate Independence Day Weekend by learning what it was like to pose for America's favorite illustrator.

Join us this Saturday, June 14, 1 to 5 p.m., for a classic car rally and sock hop, inspired by the work of our newest Artist Laureate, Murray Tinkelman.

Thanks to all who came out for our festive evening gala celebrating the opening of the exhibition, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic. It was truly an enchanted evening, with original art, dinner, dancing, and a live auction to support Norman Rockwell Museum. Special thanks goes to our guest of honor, dancer/choreographer Marge Champion, who delighted attendees with her stories of serving as the live reference model for Walt Disney's first feature-length animated film when she was just a teenager.

Norman Rockwell Museum will present a conversation with artists R.O. Blechman and Nicholas Blechman on Saturday, June 15, starting at 5:30 p.m. Spend an evening with two noted visual communicators who also happen to be father and son.

This morning Norman Rockwell Museum held a press conference to mark the opening of its newest exhibition, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic. We were honored to have award-winning dancer Marge Champion join us and share her memories of serving as a live reference model for Disney's first full-length animated feature starting in 1934.

Though they worked in distinctly different realms, Walt Disney and Norman Rockwell regarded each other highly. They were personally acquainted, corresponded regularly, and traded gifts of art and memorabilia.

This weekend one of the finest displays of Norman Rockwell's artistic talent comes to life, as his stunning 1950 painting Shuffleton's Barbershop becomes the setting for a new original movie. Starring four-time Emmy nominee Danny Glover, Norman Rockwell's Shuffleton's Barbershop is set to premiere this Saturday, June 1, at 9/8c on the Hallmark Movie Channel.

First Lieutenant Andrew Shaw and Sergeant Kelsey Shaw, view Rockwell’s “Homecoming” paintings, at the Museum’s “Here at Home Homecoming” event in June 2012.

Patriotic themes abound in Rockwell’s work and this Memorial Day Weekend is a fitting time to make a […]

A rare "still life," Norman Rockwell's Spring Flowers was originally a 1969 illustration for McCall’s. The artist was commissioned to paint a series of pictures of seasonal flowers, but he only completed the first.

Saturday, June 6, 2015
6 – 11 p.m.

SOLD OUT

Is it possible for a Gala to be fun? With inspiration from the one and only comic genius Roz Chast, YES! Invited guests and sponsors will be treated to only the best of everything, served on a platter of piping hot irony, with a glass of aged, dry […]

With its bucolic setting, Norman Rockwell Museum is well-accustomed to having its picture taken. However, this past Sunday we took things to whole other level, welcoming a full-blown, fashion photo shoot.

Norman Rockwell had a terrific sense of humor, and enjoyed sharing it with his many fans. One of the most memorable outlets for this was achieved through the series of April Fools' Day illustrations he created for The Saturday Evening Post. Can you spot all 43 "mistakes" in Rockwell's April 3, 1943 cover?

Norman Rockwell and the Red Lion Inn- Special Offer

The Deal- you receive:

• Norman Rockwell Museum admission for one
• Audio Tour – featuring Rockwell’s son Peter’s narration
• A Cup of New England Clam Chowder at the Red Lion Inn (with the purchase of an entree)

For Only $16, a value of $24.
Download your coupon April 1 – April 30. Coupon redeemable April 1 – May […]

New Perspectives on Illustration is an engaging weekly series of essays by graduate illustration students at MICA, the Maryland Institute College of Art. Curators Stephanie Plunkett and Joyce K. Schiller have the pleasure of teaching a MICA course exploring the artistic and cultural underpinnings of published imagery through history, and we are pleased to present the findings of our talented students in this weekly blog.

Mafalda and Peanuts by Valeria Molinari explores the significance and art […]

It was a veritable "who's who" of illustrators on hand for the opening of Norman Rockwell Museum's newest exhibition, Istvan Banyai: Stranger in a Strange Land, on Saturday, March 9, 2013. Nearly 200 visitors attended the opening, and found themselves charmed by the artwork and words of the acclaimed Hungarian-born illustrator.

Of the few politicians that Norman Rockwell openly expressed an opinion of, his genial view of Dwight D. Eisenhower was perhaps the most well-known. Shortly after Eisenhower received the GOP nomination, The Saturday Evening Post flew Rockwell from Vermont to Denver with less than a day's notice to capture the General's portrait.

Join us for New Perspectives on Illustration, a weekly series of essays by graduate illustration students at MICA, the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. Norman Rockwell Museum Curators Stephanie Plunkett and Joyce K. Schiller have the pleasure of teaching a MICA course exploring the artistic and cultural underpinnings of published imagery through history, and we are pleased to present the findings of our talented students in this weekly blog.

Sarah Jacoby’s essay, Stop Making […]

Combine your trip to Norman Rockwell Museum with a performance at Tangelwood. For $60 you’ll receive two Norman Rockwell Museum admissions and two Tanglewood lawn tickets. Tickets are not valid for Popular Artists and A Prairie Home Companion.
Buy Tickets here

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), “The Marriage License,” 1954. Oil on canvas. Cover illustration for “The Saturday Evening Post,” June 11, 1955. Norman Rockwell Museum Collections. ©SEPS: Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN.

Did you know that Norman Rockwell Museum hosts

Norman Rockwell Museum is saddened to learn about the passing of one of its founding mothers, Norma Greer Ogden, who died January 9, 2013, at the age of 92. Ogden served on the Board of Trustees for the Old Corner House from 1966 to 1982, and served as its President from 1967 to 1970 and was Trustee Emerita at the time of her death. Her commitment to the community had a lasting impact, and her dedication and gift for relationships built the foundation of Norman Rockwell Museum as it exists today.

Norman Rockwell Museum welcomes teachers to our next educators symposium, "comics in the classroom", to be held at the Museum this Saturday, January 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day-long symposium will explore curriculum-based connections to comics and creative applications for the classroom. One of the featured speakers at the Symposium will be Dr. William H. Foster III, of Naugatuck Valley Community College, who will explore the changing image of African-Americans in comics. When he was growing up in urban Philadelphia in the 1950s, Foster enjoyed reading and collecting comic books. But as an African-American, he seldom saw himself or his community reflected in their story lines.

Daisy Rockwell

GALLERY TALK

Meet Rockwell’s Models
First Friday of each month

January 4, February 1, March 1, April 5, and May 3; 2:30 p.m.

Find out what it was like to pose for America’s favorite illustrator from Rockwell’s own models, who share their personal experiences. Free with museum admission.

January 4: Artist Daisy Rockwell, Norman Rockwell’s granddaughter

Norman Rockwell Museum premiered its newest exhibition, Heroes & Villains: The Comic Book Art of Alex Ross, last Saturday, November 10, to an enthusiastic crowd of over 450 people. Visitors had the rare opportunity to view Alex Ross’ photo-realistic superhero art, and meet the acclaimed artist himself. During the run of the exhibit, the Museum will present a series of superhero-related programs, including Comic Creations, a superhero-inspired week of school vacation week programs (December 26 through 30). The exhibition will be on view at Norman Rockwell Museum through February 24, 2013.

Throughout his long career, Norman Rockwell enjoyed a relationship with American politics, including the opportunity to paint several sitting Presidents (Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon). The artist continues to remain relevant, with artwork on display in the White House, and such paintings as The Four Freedoms and The Peace Corps serving as enduring images of inspiration. This year's Presidential Candidates have both connected with Rockwell's work over the years as well...

Thank you very much for your purchase. Every purchase directly supports the legacy of Norman Rockwell.

Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), “Freedom of Speech,” 1943. Illustration for “The Saturday Evening Post”, February 20, 1943. From the collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. © 1943 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Licensing, Indianapolis, IN. All rights reserved.

In his January 1941 address to Congress, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt articulated his vision for a postwar world founded on four basic human freedoms: […]

A exciting new feature on our website, New Perspectives on Illustration, written by emerging scholars, will offer fresh perspectives on published art. The outstanding analysis here by MICA graduate illustration student Kevin Valente was inspired by illustrator Barry Blitt's "Bromance," an August 2012 cover for The New Yorker. This fall, the Norman Rockwell Museum continues its educational collaboration with Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Stephanie Plunkett, Deputy Director and Chief Curator, and Joyce K. Schiller, Ph.D., curator of the Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies, teach a Critical Seminar course at MICA for an outstanding group of students in the Master of Fine Arts Illustration Practice Program, chaired by award-winning illustrator Whitney Sherman. Enjoy Kevin Valente's piece, and look for more compelling commentary on the art of illustration soon.

The Unknown Hopper: Edward Hopper as Illustrator Exhibition Catalogue

Closes October 26, 2014

Most enjoyable museum I have ever been in!

The Edward Hopper exhibit was completely unexpected and thoroughly fascinating!

— 10.2.2014  Recent visitor post from TripAdvisor Read more…

Read more about the exhibition…

Plan Your Visit…

Shop for Edward Hopper gifts…

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), “Triple Self-Portrait” (detail), 1959. Oil on canvas, 44 1/2″ x 34 1/3″. Cover illustration for “The Saturday Evening Post,” February 13, 1960.

The four self-portraits pictured on Norman Rockwell’s canvas  in Triple Self-Portrait (1959) – Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent Van Gogh – are his references. They invite us to compare (as he […]

Norman Rockwell Museum is saddened to hear about the loss of astronaut Neil Armstrong (1930-2012), who died this past Saturday. As commander of the Apollo 11 spacecraft, Armstrong made history on July 20, 1969, as the first human to set foot on the moon. Artist Norman Rockwell would later pay tribute to the event in his 1969 painting, "The Final Impossibility: Man's Tracks on the Moon."

Time travelers stashed their loot and took off for the Norman Rockwell Museum today, where an accomplished young artist "captured" seafarer Bob Chandler in this amazing pencil portrait. A member of Free Men of the Sea, Pirate Bob was joined by Neal Kirk, Donna Kirk, and Allyson Chandler in celebration of Howard Pyle: American Master Rediscovered and the spirit of adventure that his art personified.

A New View of Norman Rockwell's "The Problem We All Live With" By Devan Casey, Museum Intern When you walk into the main gallery at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts you see a collection of Rockwell’s world famous and carefree illustrations depicting small town America. For me one wall in this gallery does not seem to fit in with the light hearted theme. The two paintings have a serious tone case upon them−not Mr. Rockwell’s usual style. I found myself face to face with murder, hate, and Norman Rockwell’s more controversial paintings. These two images are Murder in Mississippi (1965) and The Problem We All Live With (1964).

The Olympics are finally here, and Norman Rockwell Museum wishes the very best to all the hard-working athletes taking part in this summer’s games! Though not necessarily a sportsman himself, Norman Rockwell was frequently called upon to create images celebrating our national love of athletics—pictured here, Future Olympic Star was created by the artist back in 1976 for the Franklin Mint.

Below is a map of one common route that Norman Rockwell would frequently ride. Start with the green marker and follow the blue trail to one of Rockwell’s favorite destinations, Lake Averic. Incidentally, Lake Averic is the water supply for the town of Stockbridge. Try the bike route yourself!

View Larger Map

Enjoy a bicyle ride through Stockbridge ‘every […]

Throughout his career Howard Pyle gathered an impressive collection of period clothing and accoutrements he used to give plausibility to various period illustrations. While Pyle used paid models, he also had his students dress in appropriate costume and model for him and one another.

Norman Rockwell Museum is saddened to learn about the loss of acclaimed children's book illustrator/author Maurice Sendak, who died on Tuesday, May 8, at age 83. Children of all ages grew up reading Sendak's highly imaginative picture books, which included: The Sign on Rosie's Door, In the Night Kitchen, and Where The Wild Things Are.

Norman Rockwell Museum is sad to learn today of the passing of Richard Clemens, who posed as the police officer in Norman Rockwell's iconic 1958 painting, "The Runaway." Having worked as a Massachusetts State Trooper, Mr. Clemens was always very generous with sharing stories about his time working as a model for his Stockbridge neighbor. All of us at Norman Rockwell Museum send our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Congratulations to Anne-Marie Stanley of Lynn, MA! Anne-Marie guessed all 51 jokes Rockwell included in Norman Rockwell's classic 1945 April Fools cover. She wins two complimentary tickets to the Museum and a copy of the print.

As part of the Association of Art Museum Directors’ (AAMD) Art Museum Day, Norman Rockwell Museum is offering half off on one full priced adult admission ticket on May 18, 2015.

Sign up for the Art Museum Day coupon below:

As originally printed in The Saturday Evening Post, “the principal April fooleries” in Rockwell’s April 1943 painting are:

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), “April Fool: Checkers,” 1943. Cover […]

Norman Rockwell painted 321 covers for The Saturday Evening Post. The artist also created numerous covers and story illustrations for the many popular periodicals of his day. As magazines shifted their attention to photographs, illustrators found work in other mediums (such as children's books). However, one magazine has consistently utilized illustration art for their covers.

Norman Rockwell Museum researcher Priscilla Anthony just celebrated a milestone: 30 years of dedicated service—from the Old Corner House to the Museum's current location on the Linwood Estate. We thought it was about time we let her share the experience in her own words.

Photo of Norman Rockwell and Grandma Moses, circa 1949. Photographer unknown. Norman Rockwell Museum Digital Collections. ©Norman Rockwell Family Agency. All rights reserved.

Born on February 3, 1894 in New York City, Norman Rockwell always knew he wanted to be an artist. At the age of 14 he […]

Recently, Norman Rockwell Museum Curators Stephanie Plunkett and Joyce K. Schiller had the pleasure of teaching a course about the art of illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. Chaired by award-winning illustrator Whitney Sherman, this Critical Seminar in the school’s outstanding new MFA Illustration Program explored diverse aspects of our visual culture, and students provided fascinating perspectives. The essay below by MFA […]

J.C. Leyendecker (1874-1951), “Forging a New Year,” December 27, 1930 cover of “The Saturday Evening Post.”

Admired by Norman Rockwell as a master in the field, Joseph Christian Leyendecker (1874-1951) was one of the preeminent illustrators of the early twentieth century. Often remembered for his beautifully conceived posters and advertisements—particularly those featuring The Arrow Collar Man—he also created 322 covers for […]

Like the rest of his Four Freedoms paintings, Norman Rockwell called on his friends and family to pose as the characters pictured at the table in his iconic Freedom From Want. Clockwise from center to right:

Norman Rockwell Museum recently had the special honor of a visit from a man who is not only one of our generous art donors, but also a true innovator (in a field that is now a billion dollar industry)! Ralph H. Baer is considered "the father of video games". Back in the late 1960s, this creative engineer developed the first of a series of games to play on a television screen, including the popular ping-pong game.  Baer recently welcomed representatives from the Museum to his home in Manchester, New Hampshire, where he agreed to a videotaped interview about his remarkable career, and his unlikely connection to Norman Rockwell.

Alex Ross, “Andy Warhol,” 2011. Gouache on paper. © Andy Warhol Museum Collections.

Curated by the Andy Warhol Museum, Heroes & Villains: The Comic Book Art of Alex Ross looks […]

Aunt Ella Takes a Trip,
Norman Rockwell. 1942.
Oil on canvas. Story illustration for
Ladies’ Home Journal, April 1942
From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum
Licensed by Norman Rockwell Family Agency

“Aunt Ella was beautiful in my eyes. Not too tall, and a lovely plump front,” read the caption with this Norman Rockwell illustration in Ladies’ Home Journal. Aunt Ella’s niece, Liz’beth, continues her story, “You knew, […]

It has been a busy week for Rockwell Center Fellow S. Jaleen Grove. Following the New York opening of a new exhibition on the art of Canadian illustrator Oscar Cahén, she will return to the Museum on Sunday, October 2, to present the lecture “Sex, Booze, and All That Jazz: The Humorous Illustrations of Russell Patterson.” The artist's art deco style illustrations helped promote the idea of the 1920s and 1930s fashion style known as the flapper. According to Grove, the Patterson Girl “paradoxically symbolized both the excess and the containment of female sexuality in popular culture” during the Jazz Age."

Illustrator David Macaulay was honored as Norman Rockwell Museum's 2011-2012 Artist Laureate during a special awards ceremony held at the Museum on Saturday, September 24. The artist provided a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of some of his most recent work, including The Way We Work and Built To Last. Original artwork from these books, along with his recent cover for The New Yorker, are currently on view at Norman Rockwell Museum.

The end of the summer has brought much cause for reflection here at Norman Rockwell Museum— important milestones, the passing of former colleagues and friends, and devastating storms, which have forced our neighbors to rebuild and start again. We would be remiss in not also reflecting on the tragic events that took place ten years ago, on September 11, 2001. A decade later our nation still struggles to find peace and solace from the events that unfolded on that otherwise clear, late summer day.

Norman Rockwell is cited in President Obama's Proclamation of National Arts and Humanities Month. "Like Rockwell's painting, art in all its forms often challenges us to consider new perspectives and to rethink how we see the world. This image still moves us with its simple poignancy, capturing a moment in American history that changed us forever. This is the power of the arts and humanities -- they speak to our condition and affirm our desire for something more and something better."

Norman Rockwell Museum has lost a dear friend. Allen Bell, Manager of Safety and Warehouse, looked out for us all. He would have celebrated his 15th year with the Museum on September 24th, 2011. Sadly, he died unexpectedly at home just before we were to commemorate his anniversary.

Norman Rockwell Museum announces the honoring of acclaimed illustrator David Macaulay (The Way Things Work; Cathedral; Ship) as its 2011-2012 Artist Laureate. The award will be presented to the artist during a special ceremony to be held at the Museum on Saturday, September 24, 2011, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Norman Rockwell Museum sends our thoughts and prayers to those affected by the arrival of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene last weekend.  The storm brings to mind a painting created by Norman Rockwell back in 1939-- A Scout is Helpful. The illustration features a heroic, young Scout rescuing a child from a swollen river. Rockwell was inspired by the Great New England Hurricane of 1938, which was the first major hurricane to hit New England since 1869.

Q. During the 19th century, illustrator Howard Pyle caught the eye of what famous European painter, who was born during the same year?

A. Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)

“Marooned,” 1909, Howard Pyle (1853-1911). […]

“Boy on Highdive,” 1947, Norman Rockwell (1894-1978). Norman Rockwell Museum Digital Colletions. ©1947 SEPS: Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN.

Q. How many sports-related covers did Norman Rockwell create […]

President Barack Obama opened the doors of the White House today, July 15, 2011, for a special meet and greet with officials from Norman Rockwell Museum. The meeting was held to celebrate the White House exhibit of Norman Rockwell’s classic 1963 painting The Problem We All Live With, inspired by Ruby Bridges’ history-changing walk integrating William Frantz Public School in New Orleans on November 14, 1960.

Jack Fitzpatrick was known in many ways by many people: as a father, husband, businessman, patron, philanthropist, advocate, Senator, and friend, especially to his beloved wife Jane. Jack’s role in Norman Rockwell Museum's history began with his long-time friendship with Norman Rockwell. A close personal friend to the Fitzpatricks, Rockwell frequented The Red Lion Inn, which was located across the street from his home on South Street in Stockbridge.

Blue Sky Studios animator Carlos Saldanha, who will be joining us for our Rio Festival Day on Saturday, October […]

Recently, Curator of Archival Collections Corry Kanzenberg and I had the pleasure of spending the day with Thomas Cardone, the talented art director of the recently released animated blockbuster, Rio, which opened just last month to popular and critical acclaim. Seen here at the offices of Blue Sky Studios in Greenwich, Connecticut, Tom took some time out from his busy schedule to help us curate a selection of drawings that trace the development of the film's main characters, from the heroic blue Macaw named Blu to Linda, his devoted caretaker.

2011 marks the 70th anniversary of President Roosevelt’s historic Four Freedoms speech, which later inspired Norman Rockwell's painting of the same name. Celebrations are being held around the world to mark the occasion. In January, the Embassy of the United States in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, announced the winners of an art competition where artists were invited to express their own interpretations of the four freedoms. A panel of judges selected four winning art works for awards, depicting each of the four freedoms. Enjoy a slideshow of all entries from the art competition.

Even in this beloved still-life, Norman Rockwell had to include a model: the robin is a sure sign of spring!

Last weekend Blue Sky Studios released Rio, their latest 3D computer animated film. The movie has earned glowing reviews and landed as the #1 film in America! Spring is in the air... but will Blu and his pals manage to soar once again during this Easter Weekend? This June Norman Rockwell Museum will present original artwork from the film as part of its newest exhibition "Ice Age" To The Digital Age: The 3D Animation Art of Blue Sky Studios. As a cross-promotion, the Museum is currently teaming up with the Beacon and Triplex cinemas to offer discounted admission to the upcoming exhibition!

In 2010 the Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies at the Norman Rockwell Museum offered the opportunity for scholars to win a fellowship to pursue their studies on American illustration art and visual studies.  The Rockwell Center Fellowship is offered to senior scholars or museum professionals and Rockwell Center Dissertation Fellowship is open to doctoral candidates who are working on their dissertations.  A few weeks ago we awarded the two Rockwell Center Fellowships for 2011.

Kids Create! Wednesday, April 25, 10:30 a.m. Seeing Is Believing: Adventures in Visual Narration Thursday, April 26, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Four Freedoms Forums Our Town: Can the Local Economy Flourish Despite the National Downturn? Thursday, April 26, 5:30 to 7 p.m.

As I write, an enthusiastic group of teen artists is working away in the Museum's classroom, immersed in the creation of unique hand made books of all sizes, shapes, and designs with gifted director of education, Melinda Georgeson. This is just one of the first in a series of upcoming workshops designed to connect teens with the world of art this spring and summer, from traditional media to cutting edge digital animation. We hope that you'll join us for these upcoming art workshops. Our talented, nurturing educators will spark creativity and imagination, and help teens of all ages to advance their artistic abilities.

Moving Pictures: The Art of Animation Wednesday, April 11, 3:15 to 5 p.m. Norman Rockwell: Humorous Tales and Little Known Facts Friday, April 13, 2:30 p.m. The Art of Portraiture with Everett Raymond Kinstler Talk and Painting Demonstration Saturday, April 14, 1 to 4 p.m.

Back in 1996 Norman Rockwell Museum was honored to present an exhibition featuring the art of an illustrator who remains as popular in her home country of Japan, as Norman Rockwell has been in America. "The Picturebook Art of Chihiro Iwasaki" showcased an exquisite collection of the acclaimed Japanese picture book artist's work, organized by the museum that bears her name in Tokyo. In light of the country's recent tragedy, Norman Rockwell Museum staff decided to check in with our friends at the Chihiro Iwasaki Museum.

Now Showing: Everett Raymond Kinstler: Pulps to Portraits Curator's Choice: Recent Acquisitions from the Norman Rockwell Museum Collection Moving Pictures: The Art of Animation Wednesday, March 21, 3:15 to 5 p.m. Sunday Sketchbook: Drawing in the Galleries Sunday, March 25, 1 p.m. Special Online Benefit Auction: Win Your Own Custom Oil Portrait by Everett Raymond Kinstler

Organized by Norman Rockwell Museum, "American Storytellers: Norman Rockwell & Mark Twain" is currently on view at The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, Connecticut. This extensive new exhibition examines the impact that Twain and Rockwell had on American family and childhood. The Mark Twain House & Museum is offering FREE admission to American Storytellers for Norman Rockwell Museum members!

Last week, Curator of Archival Collections Corry Kanzenberg and I had the pleasure of visiting with award-winning illustrator Peter de Sève in preparation for our upcoming exhibition, "'Ice Age' to the Digital Age: The 3D Animation Art of Blue Sky Studios," which will open with a bang at the Norman Rockwell Museum on Saturday, June 11, 2011. Pictured here in his parlor under a vibrant, colorful likeness of the artist by Philip Burke, de Sève is an outstanding draftsman and the lead character designer for the blockbuster animated film, "Ice Age," and its popular sequels, "The Meltdown" and "Dawn of the Dinosaurs." Scrat, Sid, Manny, Diego, and Ellie are just a few of the many "Ice Age" characters that have been imagined in his fluid, emotive drawings, as has Rodney, the beloved protagonist in "Robots," another film by Blue Sky/20th Century Fox, directed by Chris Wedge and Carlos Saldanha.

During the past several months, curatorial staff have had the pleasure of visiting with Elwood H. Smith, the one-of-a-kind creator of high-grade humorous illustrations, in preparation for his upcoming exhibition at the Norman Rockwell Museum. The first in the Museum's new Distinguished Illustrator exhibition series celebrating the contributions of noted contemporary illustrators, "Elwood's World: The Art and Animations of Elwood H. Smith" will take a lively look back at this inventive image-maker's forty year career through artworks that have made their way into the hearts and minds of an ever-appreciative public.

Addis Ababa University is located in the heart of the city off the main boulevard in the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie. Students roam the campus with backpacks in an assortment of universal student attire from the uniform blue jeans and tee-shirts to traditional Ethiopian dress of infinite color and variety.

With limited dormitory space, students who live in Addis must commute to make room for students coming from remote regions, but new dormitories are […]

We look forward to welcoming writer/historian Louise Borden to to the Museum on Saturday, January 14, where she will share the remarkable true story of artists Margret and H. A. Rey, the subjects of her 2005 book The Journey That Saved Curious George. Ms. Borden will explain how the couple’s most popular creation may have ultimately saved their lives. Enjoy this 2005 interview Louise Borden conducted about her book, which would go on to inspire the exhibition currently on view at Norman Rockwell Museum.

The State Department of the United States of America is actively using cultural diplomacy as a strategy for building bridges with cultures and nations around the world. Ambassador Donald Booth and his wife, retired foreign service officer, Anita Booth, live in a home called Roosevelt House and learned that 2011 was the 70th anniversary of President Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms. This inspired the idea to hold an art competition for Ethiopian Artists to render their interpretations of the Four Freedoms today in Ethiopia.

This morning I gave a talk to arts professional of Addis Ababa. About 50 museum directors and curators, theatre, music and other arts professionals and professors attended to participate in my workshop, "Sustaining Visual Arts organizations – Engaging Audiences, Resources and Professional Practice." They were interested in professional standards, in marketing and resource development. What became immediately apparent was they this was something of a first in all coming together as a community.

 Norman Rockwell’s Peace Corps and Four Freedoms Celebrated in Ethiopia

Norman Rockwell traveled to Ethiopia on assignment for Look Magazine in 1964 to paint United States Peace Corps volunteers on site conducting their humanitarian outreach. President John F. Kennedy founded the Peace Corps movement in 1961. The Peace Corps was designed to inspire mutual understanding between Americans and other cultures around the world.

20 years […]

The spirit of the Gilded Age returned to the Berkshires last weekend, and Norman Rockwell Museum once again played host to the Berkshire Coaching event on Saturday, October 2, starting at 12 p.m. We learned why it’s cool to travel “coach” during this unique opportunity to experience Victorian era horse drawn carriages against the beautiful fall foliage of the Museum’s grounds.

Berkshire Coaching Weekend […]

Norman Rockwell's most iconic images, including the historic "The Problem We All Live With," will be on view in Stockbridge through Columbus Day, before heading back out on the road as part of an ongoing national tour.

Q. How many of Norman Rockwell’s 323 cover illustrations for The Saturday Evening Post featured dogs?

A. 55!*

This week, we had the privilege of visiting with veteran illustrator Ed Vebell, whose extraordinary career as a combat, editorial, and historical illustrator has spanned seven decades. We are fortunate to feature one of Ed's original illustrations in the Norman Rockwell Museum's permanent collection, a generous gift of the artist depicting the dramatic nineteenth century meeting of the East and West Railroads at Promontory Point, Utah.

Meet Angela, a college intern helping out the Museum's education department this summer. An Art History and American Studies double major, she has already helped to create interactive displays, and assisted with such family programming as the All-American Baseball Festival, and the children's summer art workshops... all while trying to snap a photo or two!

It’s the summer blockbuster season… and we’re not talking movies (except we are). Earlier this month The Smithsonian American Art Museum opened "Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell from the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg;" and Norman Rockwell Museum opened "Rockwell and the Movies." Visitors have been enjoying the opportunity to learn about Rockwell’s connections to Hollywood during the course of his long career...

After a harsh winter, the staff at Norman Rockwell Museum is really looking forward to the "dog days of summer," and the new exhibition It's a Dog's Life: Norman Rockwell Paints Man's Best Friend. Look for special canine-themed programs and other surprises. Here, we thought we would share some of photos of our own "best friends," who help us keep things sane...

[flickr-gallery]

Click on the thumbnails below to view the object as well as curatorial comments

Interactive Slideshow: Highlights from the Norman Rockwell Painting Collection

The Norman Rockwell Museum is home to the world’s largest collections of art and archival documents related to the life and work […]

Thomas P. F. Hoving (1931-2009)

Today the brilliant, charming, flamboyant former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas Hoving, is remembered in New York City at his memorial service in the Temple of Dendur, not only for his theatrical antics but for profoundly and forever changing the way museums engage with objects and audiences through the blockbuster […]

Norman Rockwell Museum congratulations Winstanley Partners for winning 23 regional ADDY Awards this month, including awards for work related to the Museum’s current exhibition "Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera."

Norman Rockwell is returning to "The Saturday Evening Post!" The March/April edition of the magazine will feature a cover story, which looks at the continued popularity and relevance of the artist.

Dear Friends,

Step in to the warm, inviting world of Norman Rockwell and the magical world of illustration art this holiday season at Norman Rockwell Museum. Every day I witness people’s lives transformed by the art they see at Norman Rockwell Museum. We bring you the best illustration art in the nation. Currently on view, Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney presents our shared […]

The ugly truth behind William Steig’s famous green ogre is that his name is derived from the Yiddish word “shreck,” which means “fear or terror.”

Shrek made his debut in Steig’s unusual 1990 illustrated picture of the same title. The character derives nothing but pleasure from […]

We are in process of hanging the 24^th Annual Berkshire County High School Art Show, and there really are some remarkable pieces. This year’s show features 118 works from 14 schools from around all of Berkshire County. Admission to the show is always free, and open during regular Museum hours; the exhibition will be on view at the Museum […]

Q: Which Norman Rockwell painting owned by Steven Spielberg, does the film director most relate to when he is about to embark on a new project?

A: Boy on a High Dive

When asked about the classic 1947 cover illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, Spielberg replied that “I’ve always loved […]

• 1980’s Portfolios
  • Winter 1984
  • Summer1984
  • Winter 1985
  • Summer1985
  • Winter 1986
  • Summer 1986
  • Winter 1987
  • Summer 1987
  • Autumn 1987
  • Winter 1988-89
  • Spring 1988
  • Summer-Autumn 1988
  • Winter 1989
  • Spring 1989
  • Summer 1989
• 1990-1994 Portfolios
  • Spring 1990
  • Summer 1990
  • Autumn 1990
  • Spring 1991
  • Summer 1991
  • Autumn 1991
  • Spring 1992

Picturing America, an exciting new initiative from the National Endowment for the Humanities, brings masterpieces of American art into classrooms and libraries nationwide. Through this innovative program, students and citizens will gain a deeper appreciation of our country’s history and character through the study and understanding of its art. View the Picturing America Web site…

Norman Rockwell is the official artist for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Adopted in 2008. 

Thursday, July 29 at 5:30pm
Step behind-the-scenes with Curator Joyce K. Schiller, Ph.D. for a lively look at Rockwell’s many brushes with fame in the creation of artworks for posters advertising the now-classic feature length films of his day.

“This book was made for givin’… Looking for a gift book that’s visually dazzling? USA TODAY picks Norman Rockwell’s Christmas Book: Carols, Stories, Poems and Recollections!” — Jocelyn McClurg & Carol Memmott, USA TODAY

A revised and updated version of the bestselling Christmas classic, Norman Rockwell’s Christmas Book includes 8 frameable prints of classic Rockwell holiday art. The ultimate holiday treasury features classic Christmas stories, carols, poems recipes and more…  […]

Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? A Memoir by Roz Chast © Roz Chast

An exhibition organized by Norman Rockwell Museum

Everybody has a different line, a different sense of humor. It’s a great medium, I just love cartoons. ―Roz Chast

Many readers of The New Yorker and other popular publications have been drawn to Roz Chast’s singular wit, and look forward to each new […]

Norman Rockwell Museum Director/CEO Laurie Norton Moffatt has been appointed by the American Association of Museums (AAM) to serve as an official delegate on a cultural diplomacy trip to Russia with the United States Department of State and the President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities. Ms. Norton Moffatt will be joining a delegation of American and Russian officials and several private sector leaders in Moscow from December 7 to 9

[iframe https://www.nrm.org/tmp/iFrame/timelineIframe.html 550 400]

Norman Rockwell’s working methods utilized photography as a tool to facilitate the composition, poses, speed and perspectives he achieved in his work. Controversial discussion continues about the long lineage of […]

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), “No Swimming,” 1921. Oil on canvas, 25 1/2″ x 22 1/4″. Cover illustration for “The Saturday Evening Post,” June 4, 1921. Norman Rockwell Museum Collections. ©1921 SEPS: Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN.

Taubman Museum of Fine Art, Roanoke, VA
March 20, 2016 – June 12, 2016

One of the most popular American artists of the past century, Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) was a keen observer of human […]

Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney

“I’ve found it interesting to trace how the chapters of my life have knitted themselves into my art.”
—Jerry Pinkney

In its purest sense, the act of artistic creation is a bit like looking at oneself in the mirror and leaving one’s reflection behind. All that an artist is, all that he believes, and the many things that he has witnessed in his time, become one with his art.
Across his fifty year […]

Norman Rockwell's Four Freedoms - Emblems of Hope and Freedom. When President Obama was bestowed the Nobel Peace prize this week, several aspects struck me as Rockwellian...

One of the fascinating aspects of my work as director of Norman Rockwell Museum has been meeting the people who knew and loved Norman Rockwell. His life touched millions of viewers through his magazine covers and illustrated images, but he also touched indelibly the lives of the thousands of models he worked with over the years. Norman Rockwell Museum has been recording the stories of Rockwell’s models, years ago in audio tape, and in more […]

Reference photo for Norman Rockwell’s “Boy in a Dining Car, 1946. Photo montage created by Ron Schick. Licensed by Norman Rockwell Licensing, Niles, IL. From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum.

Art inspires us to feel deeply and express ourselves, and Norman Rockwell’s art invites community conversation. We see this in the Museum galleries where people congregate and talk about the pictures, reminisce stories, laugh and sometimes cry. Illustration art is a window into the world, our history, the events in our lives, and tells our stories. People […]

Highlights from the Permanent Collection

Always on View

The largest and most significant public collection of original works by celebrated twentieth century illustrator, Norman Rockwell, the Norman Rockwell Museum exhibits a comprehensive array of paintings, drawings, studies, photographs, and artifacts that reflect the evolution of the artist’s life and career. Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms paintings (1943), iconic images inspired by Franklin Delano […]

Today I visited the Department of Education in Washington, DC with a number of museum colleagues from across the country representing the education committee of the Association of Art Museum Directors. We were exploring the significant role museums play in the community as learning partners, not only for K-12 students, but for adult education, workforce development training, English as second language settings and communities of learners. The Council of Chief State School Officers has recently […]

Posted via web from normanrockwell’s posterous

“For some time now, I have been encouraging people to ask themselves why things look the way they do.”—David Macaulay

An author and artist who has helped us to understand the workings and origins of everything from simple gadgets to monumental architectural structures, David Macaulay employs pictures and words to reveal the secret lives of objects and emphasize the common sense behind the design […]

View Future Norman Rockwell Museum Traveling Exhibitions in a larger map

By CAROL KINO/The New York Times

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), “April Fool: Girl with Shopkeeper,” 1948. Cover illustration for “The Saturday Evening Post,” April 3, 1948. Norman Rockwell Museum Digital Collections. ©SEPS: Curtis Licensing, Indianapolis, IN

Here are the answers, as reported in The Saturday Evening Post. We’re sure a couple of the “errors” might seem perfectly normal today: the girl’s “purse book” could actually […]

Reference photo for Norman Rockwell’s “Boy in a Dining Car, 1946. Photo montage created by Ron Schick. Licensed by Norman Rockwell Licensing, Niles, IL. From the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum.

The McNay Art Museum; San Antonio, Texas
June 5  – September 1, 2013

Photography has been a benevolent tool for artists from Thomas Eakins and Edgar Degas to David Hockney. And to illustrators, always on the lookout […]

Untitled (Fortune Teller at Thanksgiving), cover illustration for The New Yorker, November 30, 1992. (c)William Steig. All rights reserved.

I think I feel a little differently than other people do. For some reason I’ve never felt grown up.

-William Steig

William Steig: Love & Laughter explores the richness of the artist’s imagery- from his 1930s Small Fry series recalling the colorful Bronx neighborhood of […]

View Current Norman Rockwell Museum Traveling Exhibitions Interactive Map in a larger map

Howard Chandler Christy, Fight of Buy Liberty Bonds (detail), 1917, Lent by Thomas L. And Edward L. Pulling

During World War I, illustrated posters inspiring
public support served as a primary mechanism of mass communication. Persuasive visual symbols designed to rally Americans to the cause, they employed bold graphics, strong imagery, and concise commands to inspire a sense of nationalism and pride. Posters roused […]

Story Illustration (detail) for “Abraham Lincoln Comes Home” by Robert Burleigh, Copyright 2008 by Wendell Minor. All rights reserved.

A good picture, like a good story, is timeless.-Wendell Minor

Take a journey though history, from sea to shining sea, through the art of Wendell Minor, our nation’s premier historical picture book illustrator. The artist’s many children’s books reflect for the environment. His travels have […]

Tasha Tudor: Around the Year illuminates the changing seasons and special celebrations with outstanding, rarely seen examples of this beloved author and illustrator’s original art for children’s books and greeting cards highlighting holidays beginning with New Year’s………Christmas, her favorite.

Original portraits of Tasha Tudor by her mother, Rosamond Tudor, evocative watercolors, delicate childhood drawings, original handwritten manuscripts, miniature doll cards, hand-decorated boxes and Easter […]

New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, NH            February 20, 2013 – March 13, 2013

Stamford Museum & Nature Center, Stamford, CT                 February 14, 2015 – May 31, 2015

Nearly a year had gone by since I first made the discovery. It was purely by chance. I was tracking down some information about […]

Pauly Friedman Art Gallery, Misericordia University, Dallas, PA, January 14, 2013 – February 28, 2013

Without thinking too much about it in specific terms, I was showing the America I knew and observed to others who might not have noticed. And perhaps, therefore, this is one function of the illustrator. He can show what has become so familiar that it is no longer noticed. The […]

Fremont Center for the Arts, Canon City, Colorado    July 4, 2014 – August 31, 2014

An Exhibition Organized by Norman Rockwell Museum

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, commissioned illustrator Norman Rockwell to create scenes reflecting American family life for its national advertising campaign. These popular images appeared in such leading publications as The Saturday […]

“Tom Sawyer Whitewashing the Fence (detail),” lithograph, 1936. Reproduced with permission of Easton Press.

These were classics. I read through the books, making notes of which scenes would make good pictures. Of course certain scenes—for instance, Tom whitewashing his Aunt Polly’s fence—were required.—Norman Rockwell

In 1935, George Macy, the publisher of the Heritage Press and Limited Editions Club books, invited Norman Rockwell to illustrate […]

I suddenly remembered how Jim Edgerton had stood up in a town meeting and said something that everybody else disagreed with. But they had let him have his say. No one had shouted him down. My gosh, I thought, that’s it. There it is. Freedom of Speech. I’ll illustrate the Four Freedoms using my Vermont neighbors as models.

—Norman Rockwell

Many of Norman Rockwell’s Saturday […]

. . .children want to believe in Santa Claus just as fervently as we adults want to believe in Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men. —Norman Rockwell

During his forty-seven year affiliation with The Saturday Evening Post, Norman Rockwell was celebrated for his special holiday cover illustrations, which were commissioned to mark a full spectrum of annual events for an enthusiastic public, from […]

Q. What famous astronaut lived on the Linwood Estate prior to the opening of Norman Rockwell Museum in 1993?

A. Story Musgrave

Dr. F. Story Musgrave was born on August 19, 1935, in Boston, Massachusetts, and spent his early years living with his family on the Linwood Estate in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. During an interview with Norman Rockwell Museum in 2004, Musgrave recalls climbing […]