The Butler Institute of American Art

06/15/2026

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Danny Simmons. The art world has lost a remarkable visionary, a dedicated philanthropist, and a truly kind soul. We are grateful to have shared time with Danny during the opening of his exhibition this past May and to have experienced firsthand his generosity, creativity, and passion for the arts.

Our thoughts are with Danny’s family, friends, and all who were touched by his life and work during this difficult time. 🕊️

We invite our community to join us in honoring Danny’s legacy by visiting the Butler to experience his artwork, currently on view in the Segall Gallery through June 28. His work stands as a lasting testament to his extraordinary artistic vision and enduring impact.

06/12/2026

The Butler Presents: American LGBTQ+ Artists: 18th Century to Present

📅 Thursday, June 25
Reception & Collaborative Art Activities: 5:15 PM
Panel Discussion: 6:00–8:00 PM

🌈 Join us for an evening of conversation, creativity, and community at The Butler Institute of American Art.

Hear from a distinguished panel of artists, educators, curators, and researchers as they explore the histories, challenges, achievements, and lasting impact of American LGBTQ+ artists across more than 250 years of our nation’s history. Continue the experience by viewing LGBTQ+ artwork from the Butler collection displayed throughout the museum during Pride Month.

Panelists: John Noga, Arnold Tunstall, Todd R. Urban, Heather Seno, and Ginger Williams. Moderated by Larry Jones, Interim Director.

Guests are also invited to participate in collaborative art projects, including creating Pride affirmation flags and contributing to a community rainbow mosaic mural celebrating identity, affirmation, and inclusion.

Enjoy light refreshments – free & open to the public.

More info visit 🔗 butlerart.com

06/10/2026

🎨 What a colorful evening in Downtown Youngstown! The Butler loved being part of First Fridays’ Chalk the Walk and watching the sidewalks along Phelps Street transform into vibrant works of art. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and helped bring creativity to the heart of our city. We loved seeing your artistic spirit on display!

Congrats to the 1st place winner—Jennifer Downie 🏆 .jennifer

06/09/2026

The Butler is thrilled to celebrate Danuneka Cargill, a Youngstown State University marketing major, who has been selected for the 2026 Zoldan Yampolsky Family Executive Fellows Program.

As the Development Fellow at the Butler, Danuneka will complete 225 hours of hands-on professional experience, working closely with senior leadership to support the museum’s mission and deepen community impact.

Her talent, drive, and passion for nonprofit work make her an incredible addition to the Butler staff. We can’t wait to see the creativity and energy she brings to the museum.

Join us in congratulating Danuneka on this exciting achievement! ✨

06/09/2026

🎥 Step inside Segall Gallery with WFMJ’s Inside the Gallery segment.

Chief Curator & Collection Manager Liz Hicks walks viewers through Danny Simmon’s exhibition and shares some insight into the artist and his work, a series called Strata.

For more than four decades, Danny Simmons has created powerful paintings, works on paper, and assemblages inspired by the spirit and visual language of Indigenous and African cultures. As the founder of Neo-African Abstract Expressionism, Simmons reclaims traditional African motifs through layered textures, dots, textiles, and tribal markings that speak to history, identity, and cultural memory.

This exhibition is on view through June 28th.

We're going Inside the Gallery for a look into Danny Simmons Visual Expressions, a style of painting that he calls Neo-African Abstract Expressionism.

06/03/2026

A quick update for our visitors—The Butler Museum Store will be temporarily closed through June 30 while we complete some exciting upgrades.
 
We’re installing a new HVAC system to keep things cool and comfortable during the warmer months ahead ☀️
 
While the store is closed, there’s still plenty to enjoy—explore the galleries and stop by the café for lunch. Then come back and visit us when the store reopens to shop new Butler merchandise!
 
Thank you for your patience, and we’ll see you soon.

06/02/2026

If you’ve visited the Butler recently, you may have noticed a striking addition in A Spark of Genius.

Barkley L. Hendricks’ celebrated painting “Tequila” is back home at the Butler after traveling over the past two years to exhibitions at Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and Crocker Art Museum.

Now on view in A Spark of Genius, this iconic work welcomes visitors back with the bold presence and style that made it standout wherever it traveled.

Don’t miss your chance to see Tequila in person — the exhibition has been extended through July 19 in Davis Gallery.
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Barkley Leonard Hendricks, “Tequila,” 1978, Acrylic on canvas, Museum purchase 1980.

06/01/2026

LAST CHANCE—Accessible Expressions Ohio Exhibition is on view through June 7th 💫

The only annual state-wide arts event for disabled artists from youth to professional artists, celebrating talented artists from an array of backgrounds and skill sets.

We are thrilled to be awarded the Arts Partners in Accessibility from ❤️ for this exhibition we offer accessible labels in braille, audio descriptions, tactile artwork, and had an ASL interpreter for opening day.

We had on site so visitors could make their own “Flags for Health and Healing.” We rocked out to an awesome performance from The Feral Cats. And finally, ended the celebration with an awards ceremony.

Come see this exhibition before it travels to the next location ✨

05/30/2026

Happy ONE YEAR to 🎉 ⭐️

We are so proud to have you inside with us. You have truly transformed this space into a gathering place for the community, serving some amazing food and coffee. You offer visitors a place to rest and refuel, a place for students to study, a place for museum staff to take a break and share some laughs, and most of all—you add such a wonderful vibrancy to the museum setting.

Thank you to your incredible team for the care, creativity, and hospitality you bring each day. It has been a joy to watch this partnership grow and to see the connections you’ve helped foster within our museum community.

Cheers to many more! ☕️

05/29/2026

A new chapter is beginning ✨

Following a national search process, The Butler Institute of American Art has named Anastasia James its new executive director.