Philadelphia Museum of Art Reverts to Prior Name

The museum will keep some new branding elements as it returns to its original name.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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The Philadelphia Museum of Art is reverting to its original name after a brief period of being known as the Philadelphia Art Museum. The museum's board of trustees voted unanimously to change the name back, though it will keep the new griffin logo and other branding elements that were introduced last year.

Why it matters

The name change and subsequent reversion highlights the challenges cultural institutions can face when updating their branding and identities. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the city's most iconic institutions, and the decision to return to the original name reflects the importance of honoring the museum's history and connection to the local community.

The details

The museum will gradually roll out the changes over the next few weeks, including updating the griffin logo to use the "Philadelphia Museum of Art" name. The museum's website, email addresses, and social media handles will also revert to the original "philamuseum" branding. The museum had briefly used the "visitpham" acronym, but that will no longer be used.

  • The museum's board of trustees voted unanimously to change the name back on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
  • The museum first opened in 1876 as the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art and later changed its name to the Philadelphia Museum of Art in May 1938.

The players

Philadelphia Museum of Art

The largest art museum in Philadelphia, located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It first opened in 1876 and has been an iconic cultural institution in the city for over a century.

Daniel Weiss

The museum's new director and CEO, who took over the role in December 2025. Weiss is a professor at Johns Hopkins University and former president and CEO of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Sasha Suda

The museum's former leader, who parted ways with the institution last fall, weeks after the name change and rebranding were unveiled.

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What they’re saying

“An essential part of brand stewardship is innovating, and also listening. ... Returning to the name that is beloved by staff, trustees, and members is an important gesture.”

— Daniel Weiss, Director and CEO, Philadelphia Museum of Art (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The museum plans to have the full name change and branding updates completed within the next few weeks.

The takeaway

The Philadelphia Museum of Art's decision to revert to its original name, while keeping some of the new branding elements, demonstrates the importance of balancing innovation and tradition for cultural institutions. The museum's commitment to honoring its history and connection to the local community is a key factor in this move.