Rochester’s Clothesline Art Festival Marks 68 Years of Creativity

This September, the grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) in Rochester, New York, will transform into a bustling marketplace of creativity as the M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival returns for its 68th year. Taking place September 6–7, 2025, the festival remains a beloved fixture on the East Coast’s cultural calendar and one of the longest continuously running juried art festivals in the United States.

Its origins date back to 1957, when paintings were literally hung on clotheslines stretched across the MAG lawn. What began as a simple community art sale has evolved into a vibrant two-day celebration of contemporary art, featuring more than 300 artists from across the Northeast and beyond. Thousands of visitors pour in each year to browse an eclectic array of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photography, jewelry, and mixed-media works—while enjoying live music, food trucks, and hands-on art activities. Admission to the festival includes free entry to the museum’s galleries, where visitors can explore a world-class collection spanning 5,000 years of art history.

Set against the backdrop of one of USA Today’s “10 Best Art Museums in the US,” the festival extends across MAG’s 14-acre campus, including the striking Centennial Sculpture Park. There, monumental outdoor works by celebrated artists like Sanford Biggers and Rashid Johnson create a stunning open-air gallery.

“Clothesline is more than a festival—it’s a tradition,” says Sarah Jesse, Mary W. and Donald R. Clark Director of the Memorial Art Gallery. “It’s where emerging and established artists meet enthusiastic collectors, where creativity is celebrated in every corner of the museum’s campus, and where Rochester kicks off the fall season in true artistic style.”

Over the decades, Clothesline has showcased both rising stars and nationally recognized names, including acclaimed furniture maker Wendell Castle and sculptor Albert Paley. The event is now a cornerstone of Western New York’s flourishing arts scene, drawing crowds from the Finger Lakes, Buffalo, Toronto, and beyond.

This year also brings an exciting new addition: the debut of the Luvon Sheppard Award for Creative Excellence. Sponsored by Joy Gallery and Studio along with arts patron Richard A. Glaser, the $5,000 prize honors outstanding artists working across Rochester, the Finger Lakes, and Western/Central New York. Named for renowned artist, educator, and community leader Luvon Sheppard, the award celebrates his decades-long dedication to mentorship, empowerment, and expanding access to the arts. For more than fifty years, Sheppard’s influence has shaped the creative fabric of the region—an impact the award aims to honor and carry forward.

Whether you come to discover a new favorite artist, reconnect with a beloved tradition, or simply spend a September day immersed in art and community, the M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival offers a uniquely Rochester experience—one stitched together by creativity, history, and the shared joy of artistic expression.