
The Cope House Gallery
The Cope House Gallery is an excellent way to experience the natural beauty, history, and artistry of Awbury Arboretum all in one place.
By partnering with local artists, Awbury is able to present free art shows March through December every year. As an exhibition space where beautiful and thought-provoking art is displayed, the Cope House Gallery is a valuable resource for both local artists and art lovers. The artwork is for sale and a portion of the proceeds helps support Awbury Arboretum.
The Cope House Gallery is open Monday through Thursday, 10:00am– 4:00 pm.
(Please see our Hours and Admission page for holiday closings, etc.)
Now on View: Rooted in Me

On View
November 1 – December 19, 2023
Using the wonderfully simplistic medium of paper, Yolanda Ward seeks to explore personal stories and watershed moments.
Art Reception
The art reception will be held in the Cope House Galleries on November 11 from 1pm–4pm. Meet the artist, enjoy some light refreshments and get to know the NW Philadelphia art community.
Location: Cope House Galleries (1 Awbury Rd, Philadelphia)
Cost: Free
This event is free and open to the public; no registration required
Artwork will be available for purchase – to inquire, please contact artcommittee@awbury.org. All proceeds support Awbury Arboretum’s mission.

Bio
Yolanda Ward is an award-winning paper collage artist whose work echo’s themes drawn from Black History and culture. Viewed from a distance, her images appear to be paintings. However, upon closer inspection, they are “painted” with tiny pieces of paper in a laborious process that
starts with the fabrication of handmade papers, as well as sourcing vintage paper from around the world.
Prior to embracing collage, Ward served as art and creative director of a Fortune 500 Company where she traveled widely and worked with major museums. After studying at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia College of Art and receiving her certification in print production, Ward attended paper-making workshops at Abington Art Center and attended Arcadia University in Philadelphia. Later, she studied with a master paper maker in Umbria, Italy. Ward makes some of her own paper which she combines with sourced papers to form the foundation for her images. She then adds other mediums and techniques, including inks, acrylic paint, printmaking, hand- tearing and layering the paper to form visually stunning, highly textured images.
Ward’s work has appeared in juried exhibitions and received Honorable Mention Award at Woodmere Art Museum’s Annual Show, Abington Art Center’s Paper Arts Award and a Black Music City Grant in Philadelphia. She has also participated in sold-out, regional shows. Yolanda’s work is currently represented by E&S Gallery in Louisville Kentucky.
Past Exhibits
Coming Soon
Are you a local artist interested in feauturing your artwork at Awbury?
Questions? Please contact our Arts Advisory Committee at artcommittee@awbury.org.