AIHA In The News

"The Albany Institute of History & Art is introducing new ways for visitors to engage with its collection. A free printed guide is now available to all museum visitors and a digital guide is accessible through Bloomberg Connects. 'The Hudson River School is central to the story of American art, and we’re excited to offer visitors new ways to experience it — both in the galleries and beyond,' Kayla Carlsen, executive director of the Albany Institute, said in a statement. 'These guides make our collection more engaging, educational, and accessible to our audiences.'” – Thomas Dimopoulos, The Spot 518

"The exhibition brings together three silkscreen series [Jacob] Lawrence created between 1972 and 2000... Seen together, these works move from the sacred to the historical to the universal, revealing Lawrence's lifelong drive to tell stories that honor human resilience and dignity... Lawrence once said he did not view the story of Black Americans as one of defeat, but as one of victory in the face of adversity. You can sense victory in the face of adversity. You can sense victory in every line and color on display. His compositions are filled with motion and tension, yet they leave space for hope. They tell us that expression itself is a form of freedom, and that by telling our stories, we build something lasting together." – Chris Clemente, Metroland

"Just a few hours north of NYC sits a piece of living history — one that predates the American Revolution, holds treasures from ancient Egypt, and still shapes the cultural fabric of New York today... What makes the Albany Institute so special is how effortlessly it connects the local with the global — one minute you’re standing before a painting of the Hudson at sunset, the next you’re face-to-face with relics from the Nile... At just three hours by train or car, the Albany Institute makes for an easy cultural getaway from Manhattan — the kind that feels refreshingly different from the typical day-trip circuit. You’ll find world-class art in a relaxed setting, fewer crowds than big-city museums, and the chance to stroll Albany’s historic streets or the nearby Empire State Plaza after your visit." – Corey Fuller, SECRET NYC

"Nestled in New York’s capital, the Albany Institute of History and Art (AIHA) is one of the oldest museums in the United States. Founded in 1791, AIHA has spent over two centuries collecting, preserving, and interpreting the rich history and artistic heritage of the Upper Hudson Valley and beyond." – The Collector

Kayla Carlsen, Miki Conn (BDA founding member), Daesha Devón Harris (BDA board member and co-curator), Jacqueline Lake-Sample (BDA board member and co-curator), and Stephen J. Tyson (BDA board member and co-curator) were live on WAMC's roundtable with Joe Donahue.

"The Albany Institute exhibition includes visual art across all mediums, featuring both BDA founders and younger artists, strengthening BDA's commitment to sharing new artists with the community. 'Choosing artists for our 50th Anniversary exhibition was a challenging but exciting undertaking,' says co-curator and BDA Board Member Daesha Harris. 'BDA has shown more than 400 artists in its 50 years! We wanted to prioritize artists who are actively creating and striving to make a life through art [and] artists working all around New York State, especially those outside of artworld centers.'" – Maggie Aulman, Metroland

"For years, it was believed Albany County's Democratic Party chairman Dan O'Connell left no paper trail. Then boxesturned up at the Albany Institute of History & Art." – Paul Grondahl, Times Union

"With so much momentum behind her already, Carlsen seems poised to accomplish even more in the years to come. And due to the warm welcome she’s received, she knows the community is cheering her on." – Cierra Orlyk, Capital Region Living

"For Diane Shewchuk, curator at Albany Institute of History & Art, The College of Saint Rose’s story is in the personal details. It’s in Mary Flatley’s 1940s yellow nursing dress — complete with apron, woolen cape and white nylon stockings — that includes her name and graduation year on the garments' tags. It’s the collection of dance cards worn around students' wrists at social events, back when the school was all-female. It’s the cartoonish foam head of Fear, the school’s knightly mascot, whose plumed helmet was worn by many. These are just some of the items joining Albany Institute’s collection, following an in-kind donation from the college as it approaches its legal end following its 2024 closure. The new acquisition will be the centerpiece of an exhibition celebrating life at Saint Rose, running July 19 through Oct. 5." – Katherine Kiessling, Times Union

"'Tonight was about reminding people that the work of Dr. Green is alive and well and ongoing,' said Ta-Sean Murdock, executive director of the Center for Law and Justice. 'She always reminded us to stay in the fight and keep pushing forward.'" – Paul Grondahl, Times Union

"From its esteemed permanent collection of Hudson River School artists to rotating special exhibitions, Albany Institute of History & Art has long been a favorite of gallery-goers (especially considering it is among the oldest museums in the country). It was a tight race against previous winner Clark up until the very end, though." – Times Union

The Spring 2025 issue of American Art Review showcases On the Cliff, 1910, by Charles Courtney Curran on the cover, with an essay about the exhibition On the Road to Cragsmoor with Charles Courtney Curran by Chief Curator W. Douglas McCombs.

"On the Road to Cragsmoor with Charles Courtney Curran at the Albany Institute of History & Art charts the sun-dappled journey of one of American Impressionism’s gentler giants. From the salons of Paris to the Shawangunk peaks, Curran painted women in white linen and children at play with an eye for light, leisure, and lyrical calm. This retrospective showcases everything from his Symbolist experiments to his breezy Cragsmoor idylls—plus a side of period fashion for good measure. Art meets history in the Hudson Valley, and the road to Cragsmoor never looked lovelier." – Brian K. Mahoney, Chronogram

"Since its founding, Black Dimensions in Art has championed Black artists locally and nationally. It has curated shows in major galleries and small church halls. It has taught kids how to imagine, whether they're behind the lens of a camera or clutching a paintbrush dampened by the spray of a waterfall. And it has opened the eyes of local gallery owners and audiences to artists long overshadowed by their white peers... Black Dimensions curated its first major exhibit, “Black Artists in Historical Perspective I,” as part of the nation’s bicentennial in 1976 at the Albany Institute of History & Art. Black Dimensions will return to the institute for a 50th anniversary show at the end of August." – Katherine Kiessling, Times Union