Church’s huge and immersive paintings of the natural world captivated a global audience, bringing him critical and financial success and international recognition for American art. His creative energy exploded beyond the canvas at Olana, his 250-acre designed landscape, home, and studio in the Hudson Valley. Church stood apart from his contemporaries by looking beyond European models to seek inspiration in contemporary scientific and environmental thinking. Each painting was an adventure, taking him to South America to paint volcanoes and rain forests, to Labrador and Newfoundland to capture icebergs, and to the Middle East to depict the geology and landmarks of the ancient world. Today, Church’s paintings can be seen in more than 70 public art museums across the United States and in Europe, and Olana, a New York State Historic Site and National Historic Landmark, stands as the greatest testament to his vision.

Church’s legacy also includes the leading role he played in the great artistic and cultural endeavors of his time. He was a founding trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a parks commissioner in New York’s Central Park, and championed the creation of the first state park in the United States at Niagara Falls. Through his art, Church was also actively involved in the politics of his day, especially as an advocate for the Union cause during the Civil War.

In 2026, to celebrate Frederic Church’s lasting impact on American art, numerous museums across the United States will present exhibitions and programs related to his work, including a groundbreaking exhibition at Olana which highlights Church’s role as a global artist. Four new books will be published throughout the year, spanning Church’s life and artistic achievements, including the first holistic biography by acclaimed author Victoria Johnson. Additional events will be announced, and on April 22, the annual Frederic Church Awards will be presented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.