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Call ahead to confirm
weekend schedule:
724-785-9331
Open Tuesday - Sunday
Noon to 5:00 PM
Closed Mondays
Coal Miners Steel Mill Baseball Diamond Church Service Skyscraper Workers Toby’s Birds
The Frank L. Melega Art Museum is an equal opportunity provider.
69 Market Street - Brownsville, PA 15417 Telephone: 724.785.9331
Melega Art Museum Shop: Antonio Petruccelli
Fans of Antonio Petruccelli from around the world will now have a chance to own a limited edition of some of the artist’s most engaging artworks. Six different illustrations from the exhibit “Antonio Petruccelli: Master Illustrator” have been chosen. Limited editions are now available for sale at the Frank L. Melega Art Museum sales gallery and here online at the museum’s website. All editions are limited to fifty plus five artist’s proofs and printed with the giclee process on archival paper. Click on the images below for more information.
Open Tuesday - Friday
11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Closed Mondays
Sunday 11:00 - 4:00 PM
Call ahead to confirm
Saturday schedule:
724 785 9331
In Memoriam: Joseph A. Hardy III
Pictured Left to Right: Patrick Daugherty, museum co-founder and Director, Joe Hardy, Frank R. Melega, son of the artist and co-founder, and Norma Ryan, museum co-founder.
The folks here at the Frank L. Melega Art Museum were saddened to hear about the passing of Joseph (Joe) A. Hardy III. It was our good fortune to be visited by Mr. Hardy in 2001. At the museum, Mr. Hardy was presented with a Frank L. Melega framed limited edition “Waiting for the 6:10”. Mr. Hardy had the artwork placed on display at his Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa in their much-visited main shopping area. On display with the limited edition is information about our museum. A very generous act which typified Mr. Hardy's commitment to Fayette County and the arts. We are blessed to have had Joe Hardy in our lives.
A Walking and Driving Tour
of Historic Brownsville
A comprehensive and facinating tour of Historic Brownsville. Detailed and informative, with an abundance of photos and graphics.
Frank R. Melega is a retired art educator and artist. In 1999, Frank co-founded our museum which bears his father's name.
Earl Markowitz is our first glass artist to be part of a major exhibition. Beautiful plates, bowls, plus glass sculptures.
Derek C. F. Pegritz, in his first museum show, creates mind-boggling pen & ink drawings of incredible detail and surreal vision.
All pen & inks are 12 x 9 inches and $75.
Glass priced $35 - $200
Original Frank R. Melega artworks $75 - $550
Artworks may be removed from exhibiton upon purchase.
Frank R. Melega Black Lick
Derek C. F. Pegritz Thing
Earl Markowitz
Art in Three Acts
Frank R. Melega - Paintings and more
Earl Markowitz - Glass
Derek C. F. Pegritz - Surreal Pen & Ink
Frank R. Melega Polish Hill
Derek C. F. Pegritz
Conjuring the Flesh Flame
Opening reception Saturday May 19 and Sunday May 20, 1:00 - 4:00 pm.
Free admission, free parking, appropriate for all ages.
2024 Artist of the Pike
Jacob H. Ford
May 18 - August 24
Director Patrick Daugherty first became aware of Jacob Ford’s photography when he encountered Ford's photograph of the Flatiron Building, home of the Melega Art Museum, on the interenet. It was clear this was a talented photographer, having a strong sense of design and an eye for color. Coincidently, some of the scenes in his photos were the same scenes depicted by Frank L. Melega in his drawings and paintings. Originally from Richeyville, Jacob Ford was the perfect candidate for the 2024 Artist of the Pike. Also it is worth noting this young talented award winning artist is very savvy as to how to use the internet to sell and promote his art.
In his own words, Jacob H. Ford gives us a look at his creative process.
My 2024 Artist of the Pike exhibition of photos is a collection of towns and cities of the Monongahela Valley starting in Fredericktown, PA and going northward, down the Monongahela River up to West Homestead, PA. I did my best to represent this unique region we call the “Mon Valley”, and perhaps one of the most distinctive regions in the country. From the lush green rural Upper Mon Valley and the remnants of mining conveyer belts once used to transport coal, to the quaint towns and small cities nestled on and in the Mid Mon Valley, with historic buildings on their respective Main Streets and “mom and pop” restaurants, and the few major and impressive United States Steel sites in the Lower Mon Valley still operating today (though not to the capacity they once did at the height of the steel making industries supporting the City of Pittsburgh), to last but not least; the fun amusement parks such as Kennywood Park and Sandcastle Water Park providing fun and recreation for so many in and around this region.
The Mon Valley has an abundance of history, scenic views, industry, restaurants/cuisine and recreation and has changed significantly over the centuries. The three subregions in the Mon Valley (Upper Mon Valley, Mid Mon Valley, and Lower Mon Valley) are fairly arbitrary, and do not exactly have concise borders, so depending on who you ask, and what part of the Mon Valley they're from, you will probably hear variations of what someone from this area considers these three “subregions” and the cities and towns considered to be included in each of the three. I divided them up according to what I have found and read on various articles and comment threads on social media, and used that to form my own understanding of this unique area.
Earl Markowitz Glass Exhibition extended until August 25.
Just in case you missed it, we have extended the Earl Markowitz glass exhibition. Beautiful plates, bowls, plus glass sculptures priced from $35 - $200
In Memoriam: Norma J. Marcolini Ryan 1931-2024
As we gather our thoughts and contemplate a world without Norma here are a few comments from those of us at the Frank L. Melega Art Museum who knew her best. It was Norma's idea to have a museum for Brownsville native son Frank L. Melega.
Frank R. and Lee Melega - Museum Co-founders:
Norma Ryan was a dreamer. As a beautician she went to the home of Frank L Melega to cut his hair when he was home bound. She admired his paintings of local miners and communities. She dreamed of an art museum and it became a reality. Norma had motivated people to share her dream, but it didn’t stop there. Many projects were started in Brownsville because of her dreams.
Thank you Norma.
Patrick Daugherty - Museum Director and Co-founder:
I don't use these words lightly, Norma is one of best individuals I have had the extreme pleasure to know. No one could match her dedication, enthusiasm, and perseverance. We love you Norma.
Thank you for being such a positive and loving part of our lives.
Remy Coyle - Museum Assistant and Volunteer
I was very saddened to hear that Norma passed away as I thoroughly enjoyed working with her at the Frank L. Melega Art Museum/Flatiron Heritage Center for many years. I will miss her very much. Many times I gave her phone number to visitors who had questions about Brownsville because I knew that she was an expert of the town. She was also friends with my mother and helped her land a job at Nemacolin Castle. I will always remember how caring and ambitious she was and how she would help out everyone that she met.
