The Art Museum at Washington and Lee: Fall 2026 Programs and Exhibitions This academic year’s lineup of exhibits and events will celebrate 150 years of art stewardship at W&L.

The Art Museum at Washington and Lee is pleased to announce this year’s theme of “150 Years of Art and Counting,” with a series of exhibits and programs during the 2026-2027 year that celebrate a century and a half of art stewardship at Washington and Lee University.

Two exhibits — “150 Years: A Collection Begins” and “Zhang Xiaoli/Block Party!” — will open during Fall Term 2026 and run concurrently. Together, the exhibits invite attendees to discover the origins of the Art Museum’s collection and its legacy of engaging with students, faculty, visiting artists and scholars.

The lineup of programs accompanying the exhibits underscore the Art Museum’s partnerships across campus and its mission to inspire curiosity and an interdisciplinary appreciation of art, history and culture.

As part of W&L’s Fall Academy, a two-week professional development series, W&L faculty and staff can be among the first to celebrate the Art Museum’s 150th anniversary with a sneak peek of the two exhibitions at 9 a.m. on Aug. 18. This session will be led by Jack Green, associate director of curatorial affairs, and Jessica Wager, curator of academic engagement and programming. A second Fall Academy session will be held at 1 p.m. on Aug. 27, featuring a hands-on calligraphy workshop with visiting artist Zhang Xiaoli. Participants will be introduced to the origins of Chinese calligraphy and create their own calligraphy artwork.

All exhibits are free and open to the public, and those interested in scheduling a guided tour can email museums@wlu.edu for more information. The W&L community is invited to schedule tailored sessions and guided tours of the exhibitions.

“150 Years: A Collection Begins”

The Art Museum’s “150 Years: A Collection Begins” will be on view Sept. 2, 2026, through May 29, 2027, in Leyburn Library. Janine Boldt, curator of American art at the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State University, will deliver a lecture at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 in Northen Auditorium in Leyburn Library, followed by a reception in the library’s gallery space at 6:30 p.m.

Organized by the Art Museum team in collaboration with the University Library, the Institutional History Museum and Galleries and Special Collections and Archives, “150 Years” celebrates the foundation of W&L’s art collection. The first art donation to the university occurred over a span of several months between 1874 and 1875, when Dr. William Newton Mercer, a frequent benefactor of W&L, left several portraits of American presidents and statesmen to be installed at the university after his passing. Today, the art collection has grown to more than 15,000 objects, displayed across multiple sites on campus and serving as vital objects of learning for students, faculty staff and visitors, as well as visiting researchers and art practitioners.

Leyburn Library is open to the public 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. This exhibit is free and open to the public.

Portrait of Chief Justice John Marshall, 1829–1830, Chester Harding, Oil on canvas. Bequest of Dr. William Newton Mercer. Art Museum at Washington & Lee, U1875.1.2

“Zhang Xiaoli/Block Party!”

Zhang Xiaoli’s solo exhibition, “Block Party!” will be on view from Sept. 2 through Dec. 12, in the Watson Galleries, with an artist’s talk at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 18 in University Chapel, followed by a reception in the Watson Galleries at 6:30 p.m.

Zhang is a multimedia artist who blends classically inspired landscapes, ancient games and science with cosmology, physics, alchemy, biology and Chinese philosophy. She participated in the Art Museum’s artist-in-residence program in 2025, where she created the pieces for “Block Party!” an original collection of paintings that depict invented worlds using a combination of traditional Chinese brushwork and contemporary elements such as modular blocks and miniature figurines.

During her residency, Zhang also reflected on the legacy of the late professor of art emeritus I-Hsiung Ju, who is considered a pioneer for his blending of traditional and modern techniques in his landscape paintings. W&L currently houses the largest repository of Ju’s work, and the feature exhibition “The Legacy of I-Hsiung Ju” will be on view in the Reeves Museum of Ceramics, highlighting the work that inspired Zhang’s residency and spotlighting Ju’s contributions to and teaching of Chinese art on campus and in the community.

Zhang will return to campus as the I-Hsiung Ju and Chow-Soon Chuang Ju Visiting Artist and co-teach a class with Emma Steinkraus, assistant professor of art, during Fall Term.

Zhang trained at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Central Academy of Fine Arts and has received numerous awards, including the Liu Kuo-sung Ink Art Award in 2023. Represented by Fu Qiumeng Fine Art and Alisan Fine Arts, she has exhibited internationally, and her work has been collected by the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, the Mark H. Reece Collection at Wake Forest University, the Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida and Zhejiang Art Museum in Hangzhou, China.

“Block Party!” is guest curated by Daniel Greenberg, assistant professor of Asian art at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and is made possible thanks to the support of W&L’s Center for International Education and the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation.

Mountain Passenger (detail), 2025, Zhang Xiaoli (b. 1989, China), Ink and color on paper, Hanging Scroll, courtesy of the artist. A study of I-Hsiung Ju’s Mountain Pass Traveler (2015.35.3)

Additional Programming and Events

In addition to the various exhibitions, several workshops and events on campus will be free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Reservations may be required for select events.

Art Museum Block Party @ Watson Galleries Front Lawn | Sept. 4, Noon-3 p.m.
Celebrate the start of Fall Term with an Art Museum block party extending from the northern end of the Colonnade to Watson Galleries, featuring lawn games, museum swag, complimentary refreshments and a seal carving workshop led by visiting artist Zhang Xiaoli. This event is open to the W&L campus community.

This program is supported by the Center for International Education and the Division of Student Affairs.

Chinese Seal Carving Workshop @ Watson Galleries | Sept. 4, 1-2:30 p.m.
Join visiting artist Zhang Xiaoli during the Art Museum Block Party to explore the art of Chinese seal carving and discover a creative way to design and carve your initials. All materials will be provided; seating is limited, and pre-registration is required.

Art & Elements: Museum Mindfulness Initiative @ Reeves Museum of Ceramics | Select Mondays this fall, noon-1 p.m.
Join the Art Museum for a guided series of stress-reducing mindfulness practices that prioritize close looking at artworks and contemplation of the four elements: earth, air, water and fire. Through guided prompts, participants will engage their senses and their intuition to respond to each element by creating small-scale collages. Each session will be led by Jessica Wager, curator of academic engagement and programming, and Janet Boller, associate director of student counseling and clinical coordinator, to help guide participants in letting go of perfection and stress, and to lean into art and mindfulness practices that calm the mind. Sessions will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 16 and Dec. 7. Pre-registration is required.

This program is presented in partnership with Lindley Counseling and Live Well W&L.

Curator-Led Exhibition Tours of “Zhang Xiaoli/Block Party!” @ Watson Galleries | Sept. 17, 9-11:30 a.m.
Guest curator Daniel Greenberg, assistant professor of Asian art at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, will host 30-minute guided tours of the exhibition “Zhang Xiaoli/Block Party!” on Sept. 17. Tours will begin at 9, 10 and 11 a.m., and pre-registration is required.

The Legacy of I-Hsiung Ju @ Watson Galleries | Sept. 18, 2-3 p.m.
An alumni panel will discuss the remarkable life and enduring legacy of professor of art emeritus I-Hsiung Ju, beloved master Chinese brush painter and teacher. Panelists will explore Ju’s journey before W&L, his contributions to the artistic canon, his distinctive teaching philosophy and the profound impact he left on generations of students at W&L and beyond. Pre-registration is required.

This program is presented in partnership with the Office of Alumni Engagement’s Five-Star Festival and the Center for International Education.

“Zhang Xiaoli/Block Party!” Artist Talk and Reception @ University Chapel | Sept. 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Join visiting artist Zhang Xiaoli and Daniel Greenberg, assistant professor of Asian art at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, for a behind-the-scenes conversation about “Block Party!” and how Zhang’s work was inspired by the enduring legacy of professor of art emeritus I-Hsiung Ju. A reception will follow in Watson Galleries at 6:30 p.m., offering visitors the opportunity to explore the exhibition and meet the artist. Pre-registration is required.

Mid-Autum Festival Family Day @ Watson Galleries | Sept. 26, 10-11:30 a.m.
The Art Museum welcomes families and friends of all ages to the “Zhang Xiaoli/Block Party!” exhibition and calligraphy and poetry workshop. Interactive booths will be available for artist-led instruction to engage in calligraphy and poetry in the Chinese tradition. Pre-registration is required.

“150 Years: A Collection Begins” Lecture and Reception @ Northen Auditorium | Oct. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Janine Boldt, curator of American art at the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State University, will kick off the Art Museum’s anniversary celebrations with a keynote address that explores the history and significance of the museum’s most foundational works, including works by American painter Gilbert Stuart and the Lansdowne portrait of George Washington on display in Leyburn Library. Pre-registration is required.

Chinese Fan Painting Workshop @ Watson Galleries | Nov. 2 and Nov. 9, 10 a.m. to noon
Join the Art Museum for a two-part hands-on painting workshop with visiting artist Zhang Xiaoli. Participants will learn how to paint autumnal themes on silk fans and create their own hand-painted Chinese fan. Pre-registration is required.

CramSesh Quiet Study @ Watson Galleries | Nov. 30 – Dec. 1, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Art Museum invites students to elevate their study game in a quiet and art-filled environment. Grab a table and enjoy access to coffee, snacks and supplies. Quiet study is open to W&L undergraduate and law students.

The Art Museum at W&L is open to the public 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.  To learn more about the 2026-2027 exhibitions, visit the Art Museum’s website.