Tough Art is an annual exhibit started in 2007 featuring interactive artwork created by artists during a summer residency at the Children’s Museum. The program challenges artists to design durable, engaging pieces that withstand interaction from children, emphasizing hands-on prototyping and direct visitor impact.

Questions on Tough Art? Contact Lacey Murray, Associate Director of Creative Experiences, submissions@pittsburghkids.org

the 2025 Tough Art pieces are now on display in the Children’s Museum

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The 2024 Tough Art pieces can be seen in MuseumLab next door to the Children’s Museum

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 more on Tough Art

• Tough Art Residency web page
• Tough Art: Making Art as Strong as Kids by Anne Fullenkamp and Claire Pillsbury
• Attractions Management,  Issue 1, 2021

Duing the COVID pandemic, we transitioned our Tough Art residency to a virtual experience in Summer 2020. It yielded such interesting work that we continued it in 2021.

Selected artists created art-making activities related to and inspired by their artwork/process for people to engage with at home or wherever they might be.

• Learn more about Tough Art @ Home 2020 
• Learn more about Tough Art @ Home 2021