The Butler Institute of American Art
The Pastel Society of America maintains a distinguished and enduring relationship with the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio, the first museum in the United States devoted exclusively to American art.
At the center of this relationship is the Flora B. Giffuni Gallery of American Pastels, established in 2004 through the generosity and vision of PSA founder Flora B. Giffuni. The gallery remains the only museum space in the United States devoted exclusively to the pastel medium, realizing Giffuni’s long-held vision of securing a permanent museum presence for pastel within a major American institution.
The establishment of the gallery marked an important moment in the history of pastel in this country. Long admired for its beauty, immediacy, and expressive range, the medium had often been underrepresented in museum settings compared with other forms of painting. Through this extraordinary gift, pastel was given a lasting and respected home where its artistic significance could be fully recognized.
The Butler regularly presents exhibitions of accomplished pastel artists, including selected works from PSA exhibitions, while also displaying works from its permanent collection.
This enduring association reflects PSA’s commitment to honoring the legacy of pastel while advancing its future within American art.
