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Thursday, March 19th, 2026
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This Is What Pastel Can Do
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By Kelly Kane |
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“Manhattan Morning” (pastel, 24 x 26 in.) by Bithia Bjurman
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There is exactly one museum gallery in the United States devoted exclusively to works in pastel. It can be found in Youngstown, Ohio — and right now, it’s hanging some of the finest pastel paintings in the country.
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“Apples and Oranges” ( Pastel, 16 x 20 in.) by Sarah Blumenschein
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The Flora B. Giffuni Gallery of American Pastels at the Butler Institute of American Art was established in 2004 through the generosity of Flora B. Giffuni herself — the same woman who founded the Pastel Society of America over 50 years ago, and spent decades championing a medium that many in the art world had long underestimated. For Giffuni, the gallery’s creation was, in her own words, a lifelong dream come true. It remains her most tangible legacy, and one of the most singular spaces in American art.
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“Cole” (pastel) by Laurel B Friedmann
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This spring, the gallery plays host to 31 paintings selected from the Pastel Society of America’s annual “Enduring Brilliance” exhibition — chosen personally by Butler Director Emeritus Louis A. Zona. His verdict was unambiguous: “No matter the level of difficulty of the challenge, these pastel artists can apply the medium to meet the challenge of probably the most difficult media within the world of art. This pastel exhibition at the Butler hit a home run.”
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“Austin Park” (pastel, 9 x 6 in.) by Bethany Fields
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That a selection of the PSA’s work should travel here each year feels entirely fitting. Headquartered at the National Arts Club in New York, the society is widely credited with sparking the current renaissance of pastel in American art. The Butler, with its singular dedication to the medium, is a natural second home for its annual exhibition.
“Enduring Brilliance” is on view through May 3 at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio.
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“The Object Trebled & Glittered” (pastel) by Lihuai He
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“Vibrant Joys” (pastel) by Romeo Jr Ratio Cortez
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“Waiting for Breakfast” (pastel, 9 x 12 in.) by Chris Gipson
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Want to see what pastels can do for you? Who better to learn from than living legend Albert Handell in this amazing video course where he shares the techniques, insights, and wisdom he has gained through his seven decades as an artist.
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