The New Rochelle Art Association was founded in 1912 when a number of artists living in the city met together informally in the studio of Alta West Salisbury and organized the group. The timeline below lists some of the highlights in the long and continuing history of the NRAA.

1914 - The NRAA sponsored its first annual juried show to celebrate the opening of the new city library. Some of the noted participants in that show of 140 entries included: sculptor Robert Aitkin, painters G.Glenn Newell, Remington Schuyler, A.G. Heaton and illustrators Norman Rockwell, Joseph P. Leyendecker and Victor Forsythe.  Visit the Founder's Exhibit.

1920 -The New Rochelle Art Association formalized their existence by placing a notice in the newspaper inviting local artists to join. At this meeting the organization set formal goals among which were to "set an educational standard in the Fine Arts and promote interest in art in the community." At that time it created four sections for its members: Painters and sculptors, architects and interior designers, illustrators and cartoonists and arts and crafts

1921 - The NRAA came up with the idea of creating more interesting signs for the major approach roads to New Rochelle. By 1923 there were ten signs created by various well-known artists. These signs received national attention and were widely imitated in towns throughout the United States. They have been restored and refreshed throughout the years by Association members. To view some of the signs click   here

1929 - A formal constitution and by-laws were adopted. The classifications of members was dispensed with and a corporate seal was adopted.

The 1940's - The NRAA showed at various locations including some large Arts and Crafts festivals at the New Rochelle Women's Club.

1943 - Artists from the association painted panels for a new reading room at the library. Designs were quite varied, ranging from B-17 bombers to bucolic landscapes.

1963 - All the first place winners from a year's worth of shows displayed their work together at the Ruth White gallery on 57th Street in New York City to generally favorable reviews.

1973 - An art show featuring New Rochelle past and present went on to be exhibited at City Hall.

1975 - The NRAA refurbished the New Rochelle gateway signs.

1978 and 1979 - Shows were put together featuring New Rochelle landmarks. A selection from this show traveled to various locations including the State Capitol building.

1979 - New Rochelle built a new library with a large gallery, the Lumen Winter Gallery, named after a former president of the NRAA. This finally gave the New Rochelle Art Association a permanent home and adequate room for all of its shows.

2000 - A reprise of the landmark show was held for the ___ anniversary of New Rochelle's incorporation. A contest for the best work in the show was to be used by New Rochelle in its publicity.

MEMORIALS - In its early days the NRAA was called upon to design various memorials in the city. The most impressive of these pieces was The World War I Memorial. View memorial.

PORTRAIT PROJECT - One of the more curious projects that the NRAA was involved in was organized by the USO during World War II. Artists were recruited to paint portraits of servicemen at USO centers. NRAA artists painted portraits at Fort Slocum on David's Island. Copies were made of every portrait and there are over 2000 of them in the archives at the New Rochelle Public Library! Click to view portraits.