About PSA

About Pastel Society of America

Who we are

Workshops with award-winning artists are held from January through June of each year. The school instructors are noted for their one-on-one rapport with students at all levels. To view the schedule for classes and workshops, please click on Education in the main menu.

The Pastel Society of America produces three publications, the magazine Pastelagram, the newsletter Update, and the Catalog, which accompanies the Annual Exhibition. To view PSA’s publications please click on Publications in the main menu.

Supporting and helping pastel societies is an integral part of PSA's mission as well. Flora B. Giffuni was directly involved in the creation of more than 30 regional pastel societies in the United States.

In 2004 the Flora B.Giffuni Gallery of American Pastels was established at The Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown Ohio. For more information please click on Resources in the main menu.

Flora B. Giffuni

By Joe Hing Lowe

Founded in 1972 by Flora B. Giffuni, Pastel Society of America (PSA) - the oldest existing pastel society in America - is largely responsible for the current renaissance of pastels in American art. The society's annual exhibitions at The National Arts Club in New York are the premier event for pastel artists in this country and abroad. Pastel Society of America encourages artistic advancement through prestigious awards distributed during its annual exhibitions. Pastelists showing technical acumen and creative use of pastel techniques are awarded prizes for their achievements. Members winning three cumulative awards are named PSA Master Pastelists. Each year one noted artist is elected into PSA's Hall of Fame.

In recent years, PSA has been honored guests in exhibitions in Italy, France, Russia and China

The Flora B. Giffuni Atelier for Pastels, which PSA operates at its location in the historic National Arts Club, is a unique place for learning and mastering the art of pastel. Its faculty offers weekly classes in pastel technique.

Our Aims:

· To set standards of excellence and to encourage the use of pastel.

· To establish pastel as a separate category in major art exhibitions.

· To focus attention on the renaissance of pastel and to educate the public regarding the permanence and beauty of the medium.

· To offer workshops, critiques, classes, demonstrations and scholarships as part of our educational program.

· To offer a vehicle of communication for the exchange of news and ideas through our website and our publications: Pastelagram and PSA Update.

· To hold members' shows at prominent galleries and museums.

· To culminate the year's activities with a national annual juried exhibition open to members and non-members.

· To honor each year a pastelist of exceptional accomplishment, with election to the Pastel Society of America Hall of Fame.

· To select each year a friend of pastel whose activities have generated public awareness of the medium.

· To unite outstanding pastelists through membership in the society.

Pastel Society of America

America’s Oldest Existing Pastel Society

About PSA's Founder

Flora B. Giffuni (1919 – 2009), founder of the Pastel Society of America in 1972, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University and her Master of Fine Arts from Columbia University. She also studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Perugia, Italy, the country of her birth. She was featured in Today's Art, "How to Paint the Figure in Pastels," and "Sketching in Pastel," among other publications. She was a member and supporter of many art organizations apart from the one that she founded, including American Artists Professional League, The National Arts Club, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, and an honorary member of the Salmagundi Club. She was honored at the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) convention in Albuquerque in May 2007. Unable to attend in person, she was present by way of a filmed interview shown at the convention, titled "Flora B. Giffuni, A Life Dedicated to Pastel." In April 2009 the Salmagundi Club presented her with its highest award, the Medal of Honor, at a gala event held at the Club. She was listed in Who's Who in American Art, Who's Who in the East and Women Artists in America.

For more on Mrs. Giffuni's artwork, life & legacy, click here