HAGERSTOWN, Md. — As the United States approaches its semiquincentennial in 2026, the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts is presenting the 2026 Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition, a juried exhibition featuring contemporary photographic perspectives on the American experience.
The exhibition opens Saturday, June 20, with an opening panel discussion and reception beginning at 1 p.m. and featuring award winners and competition jurors.
This year’s exhibition was organized around the theme of America’s 250th birthday and invited photographers to respond to four thought-provoking themes: Unfinished Revolutions, Power of Place, Tell Everyone’s Story and American Experiment. The resulting exhibition offers a compelling exploration of national identity, community, history and hope through the eyes of artists from across the region.
Forty-eight artists submitted 107 works for consideration. From those entries, jurors selected 39 photographs by 28 artists representing Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.
Maryland artists made up the largest contingent, with strong participation from Washington, Frederick, Montgomery, Baltimore, Allegany and Carroll counties. Washington County was particularly well represented, with artists from Hagerstown, Smithsburg, Sharpsburg, Keedysville and Williamsport contributing to the exhibition.
The selected works reveal artists grappling with the complexities and contradictions of the American story. While many photographs examine issues of justice, memory, identity and change, they also speak to resilience, connection and the enduring possibility of progress.
Jurors recognized four outstanding works with exhibition awards:
First Place Jurors’ Award ($1,000)
Kameron Ross (Hagerstown) — A Robin’s-Egg Blue Trailer Sits Beneath a Northern Catalpa Tree
Second Place Jurors’ Award ($500)
Sandra Chen Weinstein (McLean, Va.) — Black Lives Matter
Third Place Jurors’ Award ($250)
Mark Youngblood (Hagerstown) — Nobody’s Right if Everyone Is Wrong
Washington County Arts Council Award ($250)
Justin Artz (Hagerstown) — The Community’s Living Room
The public is invited to celebrate the exhibition during the opening program on Saturday, June 20, from 1-3 p.m.
The event will feature a panel discussion with award-winning photographers Kameron Ross and Justin Artz, joined by members of the exhibition jury, offering insight into the selected works, the judging process and the themes that shaped this year’s exhibition. The panel discussion will be followed by a reception in the museum atrium.
Admission to the opening panel and reception is free and open to the public.
Through diverse perspectives and powerful imagery, the 2026 Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the nation’s past, consider its present and imagine its future as America marks 250 years of independence.
About the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
Located in beautiful City Park in Hagerstown, the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts was founded in 1931 through the generosity of Hagerstown native Anna Brugh Singer and her husband, Pittsburgh-born artist William Henry Singer Jr.
Featuring a collection of more than 8,000 objects, the museum has important holdings of American painting, Old Masters, decorative arts and sculpture. The museum schedules an ambitious program of exhibitions, lectures, concerts, tours and talks featuring national and international artists, as well as an annual showcase of artwork by Washington County Public Schools students.
Its free youth art education programs have served seven generations of local families.
General Information
The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts is located at 401 Museum Drive in Hagerstown. Free parking is available adjacent to the museum.
Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The museum is closed Mondays and major holidays.
