HARRISBURG PA – Three area artists are among 30 whose artwork has been selected for display throughout August at the second annual Older Artists of PA Showcase in the State Capitol.
Daniel Ellison and Sharon Pachler, both of Montgomery County, and Neal Grubb of Chester County, were honored Tuesday (Aug. 4, 2026) during a special reception, according to the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. It was hosted by First Lady Lori Shapiro, and held at the Governor’s Residence.
The showcase features pieces from the artists, all age 60 or older, from across the Commonwealth. Their selected pieces are on exhibit in the capitol’s East Wing Rotunda.
The exhibit is being presented by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, and Pennsylvania Creative Industries.
A complete gallery of the selected artists, their work, and additional information about the exhibition is available online.
- Ellison’s piece, titled “Crevice,” is here;
- Pachler’s work, titled “Autumn Afternoon,” is here; and
- Grubb’s entry, titled “West Bradford Friends Meeting,” is here.
The reception brought together the selected artists, their families, state officials, and community partners. The artists later traveled to the State Capitol to view their works.
Photo by Kseniya Lapteva on Unsplash+, used under license
Connecting Through Artistry
“These artists include people who have spent decades developing their craft, those who discovered a passion for art later in life, and people living with dementia,” Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich says.
They “continue to express themselves and connect with others through their artistry. We are proud to share their work, and allow the public to see aging through a lens of creativity,” Kavulich adds.
The exhibition features work in three categories: Professional, Nonprofessional, and Artists Over 60 Living with Dementia.
The new category this year is for artists living with dementia. It was added “to recognize that a diagnosis does not diminish a person’s creativity, identity, or ability to contribute,” a media release notes.
“The talent and variety on display in this year’s showcase highlights the creativity of Pennsylvania’s senior community,” council Chair Susan S. Cohen observes.
The organization, she explains, “works to emphasize, strengthen and support creative energy, which we now have on view in this inspiring exhibit. It is a wonderful illustration of the Commonwealth’s creative vitality.”
Our entertainment reporting covers the arts and culture, shows, exhibits, performances, festivals, and community-related activities within, or that affect residents of, Montgomery, Berks, and Chester PA counties. Find more entertainment articles here. Also, see and join the Pottstown Arts and Cultural Alliance group on Facebook.
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