Plein Air Festival

PAINTERS TO CAPTURE THE BEAUTY OF WESTERN NEW YORK DURING RTPI PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL

If you spot an artist with an easel set up beside a lake, along a country road or overlooking a scenic vista in Western New York September 12–18, there’s a good chance they’re taking part in the Roger Tory Peterson Institute’s annual Plein Air Festival.

This year, RTPI has expanded both the timeframe and geographic range of the festival, giving participating artists more time and more places to paint outdoors and capture the beauty of the region. Plein air is a French term referring to the practice of painting outdoors, where artists work to capture the natural light, atmosphere and character of a place in the moment.

While RTPI won’t know exactly where inspiration will take the artists, Western New York offers no shortage of possibilities — from Niagara Falls and Letchworth State Park to Chautauqua Lake, rolling farmland, forests, quaint towns and countless other scenic locations throughout the region. They anticipate that over 2 dozen artists will be participating, and they are still accepting artist registrations.

The week of painting culminates in the RTPI Plein Air Festival Show & Sale on Saturday and Sunday, September 19–20, 2026, when visitors will have the opportunity to see — and purchase — the freshly created artwork.

The Show & Sale will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, with artwork displayed throughout the museum. An Awards Reception will be held Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m., giving visitors an opportunity to meet the artists, celebrate the award winners and enjoy an evening surrounded by art inspired by the landscapes of Western New York. Admission is $10 for non-members and $5 for RTPI members. A portion of the proceeds from every artwork sold will benefit RTPI, helping support the exhibitions, programs and experiences the Institute offers to the community and visitors throughout the year.

“I’m so excited to experience my first Plein Air Festival here at RTPI,” said Stacey Otte-Demangate, RTPI CEO. “The landscape here in Chautauqua County and throughout Western New York is so diverse and truly stunning. I can’t wait to see where the artists find inspiration and what they create.”

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute is located at 311 Curtis Street in Jamestown, New York. For more information about the Plein Air Festival and other upcoming events, visit rtpi.org.

Home to the largest collection of Roger Tory Peterson’s original artwork and archives, the Roger Tory Peterson Institute carries his legacy forward by connecting people with art and nature. Through exhibitions, programs and its collections, RTPI invites visitors to see the natural world in new ways and to be inspired by Peterson’s lifelong curiosity, creativity and commitment to conservation. For more information, visit rtpi.org.

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