At The Rockwell Museum, we believe art has the power to ignite conversations, provoke emotions, and inspire new ways of seeing the world. This year, we’re thrilled to announce our annual theme: Color!—a celebration of the hues, shades, and tones that shape our lives and creative expressions. From bold strokes of pigment on canvas to the subtle interplay of light and shadow, color is a universal language that connects us all.
We use color every day to describe our mood, our favorite things, and the world around us, but it is so much more than pigments on canvas or crayons in a box. In science, what we perceive as color is a range of energy waves that fill the visible universe. Culturally, color can be linked to our emotions and identity, and these meanings and definitions change across time and geography. Colors have been inspired by nature, created by artists, and even invented by scientists.
This year, The Rockwell Museum invites you to really think about color. What does color mean to you? How do artists use color to express themselves? Immerse yourself in color this year through our vibrant exhibitions and programs.
What to Expect: Our year-long exploration of color includes a dynamic lineup of events and exhibitions designed to inspire and engage visitors of all ages:
Signature Exhibitions
The Rockwell is full of colorful stories, and we are excited to curate in-house exhibitions that shine a spotlight on works in the Museum’s collection. We kick off the new year with Dusk ‘til Dawn: The Color of Night, highlighting the spectrum of romance and terrors that can be experienced after sundown, and the way artists depict night through inky blues and shocking yellows in the main exhibition gallery. On the second floor, explore recently acquired works by Minna Citron, whose abstract prints utilize line, form, texture, color and witty titles that will resonate with viewers. In the Members’ Gallery we invite you to Think Pink! And yes, you do wish you’d been in that meeting where we selected the shades of pink that will best match The Rockwell woodwork. In the summer, look forward to Rockwell Refracted: Colorful Highlights from The Rockwell Collection where two floors will be taken over by the Museum’s most compelling colors. See The Rockwell’s full exhibition calendar here!

Bold Installations
This year’s Antigravity artist will be a real treat for the Corning community. Anna Warfield, a visual artist and poet based in Binghamton, NY, will transform The Rockwell’s entry rotunda with a vibrant text-based sculpture called Fast Colors Make a Slow Eye. Warfield’s serious (and seriously whimsical) work explores topics of identity, language and unlearning, calling on her viewers to create a better world. Plus, Warfield will take the stage at the Corning Museum of Glass Amphitheater Hot Shop to work with the hot glass team to realize her artistic vision through a new medium.
Illuminating Lectures & Deep Dives
Anna Warfield will also kick off the Museum’s lecture series where speakers will explore the many dimensions of color, from its scientific properties to its cultural symbolism and emotional resonance. Following Warfield’s January 30 lecture, you can learn from Cécile R. Ganteaume, former longtime Curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (March 13), and Jennifer Cohlman Bracchi, Head Librarian at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Library (April 24). To conclude, The Rockwell’s new director Erin M. Coe will present on May 15. Each lecture will be followed by either a Rockwell member reception or Silver Dollar Society dinner—be sure to register!
Plus, we’re excited to offer a slate of virtual programs for the Members-only Art History Club and in-person Gallery Talks that offer extra insight into The Rockwell’s collection and exhibitions for real (and budding) art buffs. No fooling –Associate Curator Katherine Banerjee will lead a fascinating gallery talk on April Fools’ Day dedicated to the playful world of still life and trompe l’oeil (French for “deceive the eye”) art in The Rockwell’s galleries.
Cozy Concerts
The Rockwell’s TRL! Concert in the Gallery series features up-and-coming folk and Americana musicians in an intimate, seated setting surrounded by works of art in the Museum’s collection. On February 14 (date-night anyone?) Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light will fill the gallery with “songs as sweet and biting as the nectar and venom” in Sumner’s voice. On March 7, get swept up in the ethereal soundscapes of The Ladles, known for their signature harmonic blend and intricate arrangements. Did you know this series always includes a pre-concert reception with your ticket? Plan your perfect affordable night out by reserving your seat today.

Brilliant Family Fun
KIDS ROCKWELL Family Days will delight your whole crew with some extra-special collaborations! In February, the Tri-Cities Opera will take over the Art Lab for a family-friendly, interactive production of The Ugly Duckling. In April, robots will invade the Art Lab with the help of the Corning Area Robotics Club – learn to drive robots that hold paintbrushes, markers and pencils to make unique works of art and more! Plus, the beloved Lil Rockwell will return monthly with special story hours and toddler art-making all revolving around the theme of Color!
Community Engagement
As always, we’ll be partnering with local schools, artists, and organizations to bring the theme of color beyond our walls. Stay tuned for details on this year’s Alley Art Project mural with teaching artist Shawnee Hill and chromatic exhibitions by local students at both the Museum and Art Lab. We’re also partnering with WSKG and OSFL for film screenings and music. Find it all on the Rockwell calendar.
Oh, and our new director, too!
This season is sprinkled with opportunities to meet the Museum’s new executive director, Erin M. Coe, who took the helm on January 6. Post-lecture receptions and gallery talks are the perfect opportunity to meet Erin and welcome her to Corning and The Rockwell.
A Year to Celebrate
At The Rockwell Museum, our themes are more than just a focus for the year—they’re a lens through which we explore the intersections of art, history, and culture. With Color!, we’re inviting you to look closer, think deeper, and experience the world in full spectrum.
So, let’s paint the year with curiosity, creativity, and connection. We can’t wait to share this colorful journey with you and see you here at The Rockwell.