The Frances M. Maguire Hall Project

Frances M. Maguire Hall for Art & Education

9001 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118

Frances M. Maguire Hall for Art & Education is now OPEN, Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Visitors can explore the newly renovated building, which has 14 new galleries housing cutting-edge Contemporary Art by the living artists of Philadelphia, the Illustration Arts, Philadelphia Modernism and Realism, Pennsylvania Impressionism, and a new Jewelry Vault. The addition of Maguire Hall expands the outdoor space, known as WOW (Woodmere’s Outdoor Wonder), from 6 to 10 acres of breathtaking greenspace, reinforcing the Museum’s commitment to “art + nature” garden experiences.

In the Works on Paper Gallery, Woodmere is also delighted to bring artist Peter Paone’s Snowpeople to life in this inventive body of work on the very special occasion of the opening of Maguire Hall. In this series that the artist calls Snowpeople, some register as men, and some as women. The series also features a rabbit, a frog, Minnie and Mickey Mouse, and a hat with a face. Together, they witness Paone's career-long passion for representing the human condition, including our mortality. Also on view in the same gallery, Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman. Written by Alan Schroeder, Minty (1996) is the fictional story of Harriet Tubman’s early childhood on a Maryland plantation owned by the Brodas family. This intimate exhibition showcases the work by master watercolorist and internationally renowned illustrator, Jerry Pinkney (1939-2021), whose 100+ books have inspired millions globally.

Frances M. Maguire Hall Project 

The creation of Frances M. Maguire Hall for Art and Education is the most significant event in the history of Woodmere since it opened its doors to the public in 1910. Woodmere thanks the members of the Maguire Family and the community of generous supporters and neighbors who made the institution's growth possible. And our deepest gratitude goes to the top-tier team of professionals, including Matthew Baird Architects, Krieger + Associates Architects, Andropogon Landscape Architects, Sullivan Construction, and Aegis Property Group, who helped transform the nineteenth-century residence into a twenty-first-century museum.

The interior spaces, which were formerly parlors and bedrooms, of Frances M. Maguire Hall for Art and Education have been transformed into galleries designed to showcase the strengths of Woodmere’s collection. The grounds are being enhanced with sculpture, 150 new trees, and a fountain at the building’s entrance. You can practically hear the joyful energy of children rushing to explore the Love Kids Art Studio.

About the Project

In 2021, Woodmere acquired the mansion and its four acres, formerly known as Saint Michael’s Hall, from the Sisters of Saint Joseph. It had been a residence for the Sisters for almost one hundred years. The Maguire Foundation made a generous lead gift of $10 million to rename the building Frances M. Maguire Hall for Art and Education in honor of Frannie Maguire (1938 - 2020), a long-serving trustee of Woodmere who was an artist and philanthropist. Many generous contributions from a broad community of donors also supported the renovation. In addition to fourteen galleries for Woodmere’s permanent collection, the renovation includes a hands-on children’s art and education studio and several new public spaces for public events and programs.

The galleries in Frances M. Maguire Hall will showcase the collection’s dedication to the inclusive dialogue of contemporary art in Philadelphia. Strengths in 20th-century art will also be presented, including the specific configurations of American Impressionism, figurative arts, and modernism that are particular to Philadelphia. Three galleries will tell the stories of Philadelphia’s jewelry arts, and the top floor of Maguire Hall will house a study center and gallery for works on paper. The expansion enables Woodmere to exhibit masterpieces held in storage, including important works by Violet Oakley and the Red Rose Girls, Arthur B. Carles and his circle, and many others. Woodmere’s significant collections of 19^th-century landscapes and its founder’s collection, along with special exhibitions and the Museum Store, will continue to be housed in Woodmere’s Charles Knox Smith Hall.