OVERVIEW

Thomas Cole: An American Visionary is the inaugural exhibition in the new Richard Sharp Gallery. It presents a dynamic installation of landscape paintings, painting objects, and easels of Thomas Cole (1801–1848) that explores his evolution into an artist of international renown whose paintings conveyed a visual identity for a young nation and continue to inspire artists to this day. The exhibition features an iconic Cole painting newly gifted to the collection by Richard T. Sharp.

The exhibition illuminates Cole’s beginnings as an artist, his creative process and inspirations, his deep connection to the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson Valley, his development as an international artist, and his role as teacher and mentor to Frederic Church (1826–1900), the 200th anniversary of whose birth is being celebrated this year. The exhibition includes 16 paintings by Thomas Cole and one by Frederic Church, painted while a student of Cole, in addition to drawings and sketches, painting objects, easels, and sources of inspiration. The exhibition is part of the broader 2026 initiative Thomas Cole: Painting the Nature of America, celebrating the anniversary of America at the home of American landscape. Scholars Alan Wallach and Nancy Siegel serve as advisors to the project. 

The Richard Sharp Gallery was made possible by a generous donation from Richard T. Sharp to engage and inspire new generations. Sharp is a longtime supporter of the Thomas Cole Site and has gifted to the collection the largest amount of artwork by, and objects related to, Thomas Cole from a private individual outside of the artist’s family. The gallery is designed by Architectural Digest 100 Stephen Shadley.

To commemorate the opening of the Richard Sharp Gallery and inaugural exhibition, Rick Sharp has donated the iconic Thomas Cole painting Diagram of Contrasts to the permanent collection of the Thomas Cole Site.

PRESS RELEASE

Cover image: Thomas Cole, Diagram of Contrasts, 1834, oil on panel, 23 ½ x 35 in., Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Gift of Richard T. Sharp, TC.2025.5

FREE OPENING RECEPTION 

Saturday, April 25, 4–6 pm

Join a free public opening reception with wine, cheese, art making, and live music. The exhibition is on the second floor of the 1815 Main House in the new Richard Sharp Gallery, the refreshments and live music will be in the Cole Center, and art-making activities will be in the Storehouse.

All are welcome, but we hope you will become a member if you are able to do so. 

Art making in the Storehouse: Make your own “Color Wheel” painting and stickers. All ages welcome.

Jazz duo featuring bassist Max Liebman 

Refreshments sponsored by Talbott & Arding, Catskill Chocolate Co. and Return Brewing.

TICKETED OPENING CONVERSATION

Saturday, April 25, 1–2 pm

Join esteemed art historians and Hudson River School scholars, Alan Wallach and Nancy Siegel, for a an Opening Conversation on Thomas Cole’s enduring legacy and profound impact on American art in the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.

TICKETS

PROGRAMMING

SPOTLIGHT EXHIBITION OBJECTS – Selection

Thomas Cole, Two Men Walking (Hunters in a Landscape), ca. 1825, oil on canvas, 28¼ × 35½ in., Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Gift of Dr. Susan G. A. Warner, TC.2019.1

Thomas Cole, Tower by Moonlight, 1838, oil on canvas, 10 1/8 × 14 1/8 in., Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Gift of David and Laura Grey, TC.2014.4

E. & H. T. Anthony, After Matthew Brady Carte de visite, Portrait of Frederic Church, n.d., albumen photograph on board, 3¼ × 2¼ in., Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Gift of Frank Racette, TC.2013.4

Thomas Cole: Painting the Nature of America at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site is supported by The National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

Made possible in part by Hickory Foundation; With public funds from the Greene County Legislature through the Greene County Cultural Fund, administered in Greene County by CREATE Council on the Arts; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; Jennifer Krieger and Eric Siegel; National Trust Insurance, LLC; Art Bridges; Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area; The Tryon Family Foundation; Anne and Fred Osborn III / The EASTER Foundation; Bank of Greene County Charitable Fund; Columbia Memorial Health; BST & Co. CPAs, LLP; and Eli Wilner & Company.

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.