Artist Talk with Bo Bartlett

Meet the artist behind some of contemporary American realism's most striking images.

Bo Bartlett, PAFA Certificate alum (1980) and featured artist in A Nation of Artists, joins us for an intimate conversation about his life's work--monumental paintings that capture American life with photographic precision and profound emotional depth.

Bartlett's canvases are populated by figures caught in moments of contemplation, transition, and everyday transcendence. Influenced by his close friendship with Andrew Wyeth and his rigorous training at PAFA, Bartlett has spent five decades refining a distinctive vision of contemporary American experience. His works appear in major museum collections nationwide, and his recent paintings continue to explore themes of memory, place, and the search for meaning in an ever-changing America.

In this lunchtime talk, Bartlett discusses his artistic journey from PAFA student to celebrated painter, his working methods and technical approach to large-scale realism, and what it means to be an American artist working in a representational tradition in the 21st century. Hear firsthand how PAFA's legacy of teaching excellence—the unbroken line from Eakins to today's studios—shaped his career and continues to influence his work.

This program is offered in a hybrid format—attend in person at PAFA or watch the live stream on YouTube. A link to the livestream will be emailed to all registrants by 11:30 AM on the day of the event. A recording of the program will be shared with registrants following the event.