Fall 2026 Programs

MONTCLAIR ART MUSEUM ANNOUNCES FALL 2026 PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Free community celebrations, artist talks, family programs, workshops, exhibition-related events, and more offer something for visitors of all ages this fall.
 

MONTCLAIR, NJ, September 16 2026—As summer winds down and the season turns to cooler days, the Montclair Art Museum (MAM) welcomes the community to a fall filled with art, conversation, and connection. Highlights include a fall fundraiser and silent auction inspired by the Pacific Northwest Coast, engaging talks and programs connected to MAM’s newest exhibitions, and creative opportunities at the MAM School of Art.

MAM’s fall season is anchored by two newly opened exhibitions: Nadia Myre: Analog/ues and Kate Dodd: You’re Invited!. Throughout the season, these exhibitions along with Shifting Terrain: Perspectives on Land in North America and Interwoven Power: Native Knowledge / Native Art, serve as the foundation for artist talks, gallery tours, family programs, educator events, and hands-on artmaking. In December, MAM will also open Samar Hussaini: Identity in Paint and Thread, extending the Museum’s exhibition season into the winter.

An evening celebrating veteran-created art and performances featuring the NJ Mental Health Players, VA NJHCS Guitar Group, and Exit12 Dance Company.

Celebrate the artists featured in Studio Stories: Access Student Art Exhibition, showcasing work by students in MAM’s Access Program. Designed for neurodiverse students and students with disabilities ages 16 and up, the Access Program provides an inclusive studio environment where artists of all abilities and experience levels can develop their skills and creative voices.

Celebrate Sense of Space, an exhibition featuring artwork created by students in MAM’s Introduction to Landscape Painting class. The reception offers an opportunity to view work created by participating artists and celebrate their exploration of landscape painting during the course.

Join MAM in Leir Hall for Before It Is Sealed: The Montclair Community Time Capsule, a participatory program inviting community members to create items for inclusion in a time capsule that will remain sealed until 2076. Visitors can contribute to this record of Montclair today before the community-created time capsule is closed for the next 50 years.

Presented in partnership with NJPAC Arts & Well-Being, Summer on the Street is a free community art program for people of all ages and abilities. Led by NJPAC Artist-in-Residence Javelin Manansala, participants use light and everyday objects to create cyanotypes exploring how community leaves an imprint on who we are. Participants are encouraged to bring objects that hold personal meaning to incorporate into their work; past participants have used everything from everyday items to their own wedding rings.

MAM’s Free First Thursdays return with free general admission, activities, food, drinks, and more. On November 5, MAM presents Analog Night, inviting visitors to unplug and enjoy a screen-free evening of artmaking, board games, gallery tours, food, drinks, and community. Additional Free First Thursdays will take place in March, April, May, and June.

MAM’s fall art auction and cocktail party brings the community together for an evening of art and celebration inspired by the Pacific Northwest Coast.

Join disability rights advocate, writer, and speaker Emily Ladau for a conversation about the newly revised and expanded edition of her book, Demystifying Disability, moderated by disability rights leader Rebecca Cokley, Director of the Ford Foundation’s U.S. Disability Rights program.

Join art historian Avis Berman, author of the forthcoming Becoming Roy Lichtenstein: The Path to Pop, as she explores Roy Lichtenstein’s journey from an obscure artist to a defining figure of American Pop art.

Artists Nadia Myre and Alan Ojiig Corbiere come together for MAM’s Annual Julia Norton Babson Lecture, a program for audiences interested in Native American art, history, and cultures.

Families are invited to explore art together through MAM’s recurring Sunday Studio program. Exhibition-focused sessions this fall include programs inspired by Nadia Myre: Analog/ues and Kate Dodd: You’re Invited!. Sunday Studio is designed for families with children ages 5–12, but all are welcome.

Nadia Myre: Analog/ues Sunday Studios:
September 27; October 4; November 8 and 29; December 13; January 3 and 17

Kate Dodd: You’re Invited! Sunday Studios:
October 25; November 1; December 6; January 3

Indigenous Peoples’ Day Special Guest Sunday Studio
October 11
A special Sunday Studio program in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

MAM’s Teen Studio returns for the fall season, providing teens with opportunities to create, experiment, and engage with art.

Young artists can spend two days experimenting with a variety of art media and learning new techniques for creative self-expression while school is out. Led by MAM’s professional Teaching Artists, the camp offers a fun, supportive environment with small groups for personalized attention. Separate sessions are offered for ages 6–8 and 9–12.

MAM welcomes students and representatives from colleges and universities for Portfolio Review Day, offering aspiring art students the opportunity to receive feedback and learn more about higher education opportunities in the arts.

Educators are invited to a free evening at MAM exploring new ways to integrate Native art and knowledge into the classroom. The program includes guided gallery tours of Shifting Terrain: Perspectives on Land in North America and Nadia Myre: Analog/ues, along with teaching strategies and lesson plans focused on Indigenous art. Refreshments will be served, with opportunities to connect with Museum staff and fellow New Jersey educators.

Adults ages 55+ and friends are invited to enjoy art, conversation, and creativity at MAM. Each session begins with an instructor-led gallery visit and discussion, followed by a related hands-on art activity. All experience levels are welcome, and materials are provided. Paid personal care partners are admitted free of charge.

MAM’s Wine and Wheel offers adults a hands-on introduction to the potter’s wheel in a relaxed, social setting. Participants can experiment with wheel-throwing techniques to create functional ceramic pieces such as cups, bowls, and vases. The workshop is BYOB and open to ages 21 and over.

MAM offers recurring public tours throughout the season, providing visitors with opportunities to learn more about the Museum’s exhibitions and collection. Tours are free with Museum admission.

Nadia Myre: Analog/ues Tour Dates:
September 20; October 18; November 15; December 13; January 17

The MAM School of Art offers a wide range of hands-on workshops for adults this fall, from painting and drawing to ceramics, printmaking, and woodcarving. Workshop schedule is subject to change.

Registration for the MAM School of Art Winter Session opens December 7 for members and December 14 for the public. Winter classes begin January 11.

Programs throughout the fall and winter invite visitors to engage more deeply with Nadia Myre: Analog/ues through public tours, Sunday Studios, Art in the Afternoon, and the Annual Julia Norton Babson Lecture.

Visitors can explore Kate Dodd: You’re Invited! through exhibition-focused Sunday Studios and Art in the Afternoon programs throughout the season.

Programs, dates, and times are subject to change. For the latest information and registration details, visit us at montclairartmuseum.org.