Museum of Art in Wood Collection Tour

Celebrate the artistry of wood with this unique package from the Museum for Art in Wood. Take home a curated collection of museum merchandise and exclusive swag that lets you show your appreciation for one of Philadelphia's premier craft institutions.

Then, experience the museum in a whole new way with a private curator-led tour, offering behind-the-scenes insights into the exhibitions, artists, and extraordinary works on view. Learn about the rich history of contemporary wood art while gaining a deeper appreciation for the creativity and craftsmanship that define the collection.
Whether you're a collector, craft enthusiast, or simply love discovering Philadelphia's vibrant arts community, this package offers the perfect combination of keepsakes and an unforgettable museum experience.

About the location

The Museum for Art in Wood comprises the gallery for changing exhibitions, the permanent collection, the Fleur & Charles Bresler Research Library, the Len Scherock Museum Store, and the Earl Powell Artist Research Files. It also organizes arts residencies, which are held on an annual basis, and provides in-person and virtual talks and activities.
In its location in Old City, the Museum offers free admission to its changing exhibitions and access to its permanent collection, which now numbers some 1,400 objects and includes turned objects, sculpture, studio furniture, works on paper, video, and more. One of the most extensive institutional collections of contemporary art in wood, the collection serves as a growing document of this field. The Museum's research library consists of over 26,000 images, artist files, and books that chart the history of wood turning and woodworking and their continuing evolution within the broader field of contemporary art.
In November 2026 through March 2027 they will host a solo exhibition of wood artist Donna Dodson, titled Match of the Matriarchs. This show centers on a monumental, interactive chessboard featuring 32 life-size, movable chess pieces hand-carved from salvaged wood. Modeled on female archetypes and marine beings-cephalopods, cetaceans, and mermaids-Dodson's sculptures transform the traditionally hierarchical game into a speculative arena of matriarchal power and ecological symbolism. Long coded as a test of masculine intellect and mastery, chess in this match becomes a site of reversal: the queen's latent authority resurfaces, and new strategies come into view. Working with reclaimed wood-its ranging tones and scars visible to all-Dodson aligns chess with material memory, presenting the game as a dynamic system of multi-generational wisdom, stratagem, and transformation over domination.

Learn more about them.

• Winning Raffles are announced at 10:15 pm EST on September 26th
• If attending the event in person winners may pick up their Raffle in the first floor Gallery at 10:30 pm
• Any winner not in attendance will be contacted on Monday September 28th.
• Items can be packed and shipped, and the winner will pay the cost.
• Items can be picked up at The Clay Studio for no additional cost.
• Items with alcohol CANNOT be shipped.
• please note: one raffle sheet is 10 tickets for $10, or three sheets of 10 (total 30 tickets) for $25