Feb. 6, 2026

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

Former Lafayette College President Daniel Weiss has restored common sense at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Weiss, who is now the director and chief executive of the museum, reversed the previous leader’s decision to call the institution the Philadelphia Art Museum, or “Pham.”

Some people made a crude abbreviation for the Philadelphia Art Museum name, one that will not see the light of day here.

It may not seem like a big deal, but when somebody changes a name for no apparent reason, that makes me suspicious that they have nothing better to do. The museum director who made that change is now the former director and engaged in a battle with the Philadelphia Museum of Art — PMA — over terms of the departure.

I don’t know Weiss but I’ve met him. He’s been the head of some of my favorite institutions, including Lafayette (Class of 1982 here) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. I’m a member of the Metropolitan and Philadelphia museums, and I’m confident he’ll do a great job in his new role.

In a letter to museum members, Weiss said PMA listened to the public.

“We’ve taken this feedback to heart, and to this end, in the coming days you’ll see a refreshed logo with the griffin and a return to the Philadelphia Museum of Art name,” he said.

Here’s a link to the museum’s statement and below, a cut-and-paste version:

Brand Update: Philadelphia Museum of Art Will Return as Name of Institution; Griffin Logo and Brand Identity Will Remain

Philadelphia, February 4, 2026 – Philadelphia’s art museum will update its recent brand changes by returning the name of the institution to “Philadelphia Museum of Art,” while retaining the griffin logo and brand identity that were introduced in recent months. These changes reflect the recommendations of an interdisciplinary task force of museum trustees and staff, which examined the process and rollout of the rebrand, and commissioned surveys of museum staff, trustees, members, and the Philadelphia-area public. The museum’s board of trustees voted unanimously to embrace this move in a special meeting this afternoon. 

“An essential part of brand stewardship is innovating, and also listening,” said Daniel Weiss, George D. Widener Director and CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. “The new logo, with the griffin, is a bold, yet historical approach that we are heartened to see is being embraced by the public. Returning to the name that is beloved by staff, trustees, and members is an important gesture. We now have a system that our entire community can rally around—so we can dedicate ourselves to the important opportunities of our mission.”

The brand updates will be introduced incrementally over the coming weeks. An updated griffin logo will use the “Philadelphia Museum of Art” name, as will an updated wordmark. The museum’s URL, its email addresses, and its social channels will return to “philamuseum.” The PhAM acronym will no longer be used.

Survey findings reflected a strong preference among staff and trustees to return to the prior name, and equally strong views from the public perceiving the griffin logo as a bold symbol that encourages engagement with the museum.

“The board of trustees fully supports these updates and voted unanimously to embrace the task force’s recommendations,” says Ellen Caplan, chair of the museum’s board. “Dan and the entire team have quickly and importantly found a way to embrace the heritage of the museum, and provide a platform to widen our audience.”