Wharton Esherick Museum, Malvern

About Wharton Esherick Museum

The Wharton Esherick Museum preserves the home and studio of American artist Wharton Esherick, set on twelve wooded acres in Malvern atop Valley Forge Mountain. Visitors tour Esherick's hand-built Studio, a National Historic Landmark for Architecture constructed over forty years beginning in 1926. The Studio itself functions as an inhabitable artwork, filled with Esherick's sculptural furniture, paintings, and personal objects. Guided tours include the Experiencing Esherick Tour, a sixty to seventy-five minute journey through the Studio interior and grounds introducing visitors to Esherick's creative vision, his connection with natural materials, and his innovations in art, craft, design, and architecture. The museum also offers specialty topic tours focusing on the architecture of the experimental buildings Esherick created. His work avoids straight lines and right angles, instead favoring sensuous curves in everything from sofas and beds to door latches and wastebaskets. The museum operates Wednesday through Sunday by advance reservation and presents annual juried woodworking exhibitions alongside special programs and events throughout the year.