Somerville Manning Gallery, Wilmington

Somerville Manning Gallery, located on the second floor of Wilmington’s historic Breck’s Mill near the Hagley Museum, has been a cornerstone of the region’s art scene since 1981. The gallery was founded with a vision to showcase both the legacy of the Brandywine tradition and the evolution of American art into the 20th and 21st centuries. While modest in size, it offers museum-quality exhibitions and has become a destination for collectors, curators, and art lovers seeking thoughtful, expertly curated shows.

The gallery is particularly noted for its deep expertise on the Wyeth family, having mounted multiple exhibitions dedicated to N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, Jamie Wyeth, and the often-overlooked women artists in the family. Owner Vickie Manning, a recognized expert on the Brandywine School, has guided the gallery in shaping museum and private collections nationwide through her curatorial insight and scholarly contributions.

Beyond its regional focus, Somerville Manning Gallery participates in prominent art fairs such as the Seattle Art Fair, the Philadelphia Show, and Art on Paper in New York, highlighting contemporary trends alongside historical works. Its programming has featured pivotal exhibitions like Howard Pyle and His Students, American Masters, and Ninth Street Women and Their Legacy, bridging past and present through an inclusive lens. The gallery also represents modern and contemporary artists including Peter Sculthorpe, J. Clayton Bright, and Greg Mort, adding further depth to its offerings.

Whether reviving overlooked chapters of American illustration or introducing new voices in contemporary painting and sculpture, Somerville Manning Gallery has built a reputation for curatorial integrity and long-standing dedication to art history.