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our task, regarding creativity, is to help children climb their own mountains, as high as possible. No one can do more.
Loris Malaguzzi

creator and developer of the Reggio Emilia Approach

tough art exhibit

 

The 2024 Tough Artists’ art work is now on exhibit
Meet the artists and see their work

 

Tough Art is an annual exhibit started in 2007 that showcases the work of artists who complete a summer residency at the Children’s Museum to prototype and create a new art work that children interact with and the art can withstand the rigor and enthusiasm of the interaction. It is one of the Museum’s longest running and most rewarding programs.

The program connects artists from all arts to the resources and visitors at the Children’s Museum. Selected artists generate and implement interactive, immersive and/or collaborative projects and connect the art-making process to the larger museum context and the museum visitor. Artists are tasked to make a direct impact on the visitor experience by creating an entirely new piece to be displayed in the Museum. Throughout the residency, artists prototype and evaluate their process to achieve the desired outcome. We believe the magic of the Tough Art residency comes from this on-the-floor prototyping, where children interact with the art.

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

learn more

tough art @ home

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.

past tough artists

tough art on display in the children's museum

Shy Lights

Artist(s): Charles Sowers, 2015

Residency: Across from the Kindness Gallery

An Obscured Neutral Moment #1

Artist(s): Rick Gribenas, 2008

Residency: Tunnel to the Art Studio

Reach

Artist(s): Scott Garner, 2013

Residency: Across from the Garage

Temperamental Stairs

Artist(s): Agnes Bolt & Arthur Jones, 2010

Residency: Stairs to second floor

Lake Light

Artist(s): Isaac Levine, 2018

Residency: Buhl hallway

tough art on display at museumlab

Compound Ringship

Artist(s): Ryder Henry, 2019

Residency: MuseumLab lobby

Mechanical Masterpieces

Artist(s): Neil Mendoza, 2018

Residency: Tech Lab