Preservation Long Island will present “Making a Name for Himself: The Life & Art of F. Edwin Church, 1876–1975,” a new exhibition highlighting the work of celebrated 20th-century portrait and landscape artist F. Edwin Church, who had strong ties to Long Island’s North Shore.
On view from September 19 to December 21, 2025, at Preservation Long Island’s Exhibition Gallery in Cold Spring Harbor, the exhibition features a wide array of artworks, photographs, and personal ephemera spanning Church’s prolific career — framed within the larger narrative of his life both abroad and on Long Island.
Despite sharing a name with the famous American landscape painter, Frederic Edwin Church (1876-1975) became a celebrated artist in his own right.
Born in Brooklyn in 1876, he briefly studied architecture before realizing his true passion for painting. He enrolled in art classes in New York and Paris, studying with notable artists and exhibiting his art.
He chose to sign his paintings “F. Edwin Church” to distinguish himself professionally and endeavored to create his own artistic identity.
Rooted in the traditions of Impressionism and Japonisme, Church’s work nevertheless reflects modern life in the twentieth century.
He found inspiration in the world around him, filling his canvases with vibrant flowers, birds, and urban and natural landscapes. Critics praised his opulent portraits featuring women in contemporary fashions blended with elements of Japanese art and design.
Church’s ties to Long Island include his family’s construction of two homes in Locust Valley, both designed in 1928 by renowned architect Harrie T. Lindeberg.
At his primary residence, which he named Laurelwood and occupied for the rest of his life, Church painted bird frescoes on the loggia walls — preserved by the current owners.
During this period, Church established the Charles T. Church Northshore Bird Sanctuary on part of the adjoining family properties in Locust Valley, in memory of his brother.
The Church’s were founding members of North Shore Wildlife Sanctuary and donated a significant portion of the land that is now known as the Shu Swamp Preserve.
“On display are several works Church created while living on Long Island, including paintings of scenes from his Locust Valley residence and the exhibition’s only woodblock print, which depicts ice skaters at the Beaver Dam Club in Mill Neck,” said Emily Werner, Guest Curator.
“Montauk Beach” and “The Cow Path” capture the diversity of Long Island’s natural landscapes, while “Oyster Bay House” serves as a valuable record of a North Shore vernacular home that was later lost to the waves of suburbanization that reshaped the region in the mid-20th century.”
The exhibit will be on view at Preservation Long Island’s Exhibition Gallery, 161 Main Street in Cold Spring Harbor, NY, from September 19 until December 21st. The suggested admission is $5.00 or pay what you wish. The exhibit is Friday through Sunday from 11 am until 4 pm.
Visit the Exhibition page for additional opening hours that may be scheduled during the exhibition.
Related programs and events will take place throughout the run of the exhibition and include:
Paint and Sip: Recreate Church’s painting of Montauk Beach under the guidance of artists from The Village Artist studio in Huntington. – October 04, 2025
Shu Swamp Preserve Nature Walk: Experience the beauty that inspired F. Edwin Church to preserve the streams, ponds, and forests of Shu Swamp. – November 01, 2025
Edwin Church Exhibition Curator Tour: Join Guest Curator Emily Werner as she guides visitors through the techniques, travels, and artistic influences that shaped Church’s journey as a painter working on Long Island in the early 20th century. – November 22, 2025
Family Program – Portraits and Patterns with F. Edwin Church: Bring the whole family for a fun and creative afternoon inspired by the colorful world of artist F. Edwin Church. – December 06, 2025
Visit Preservation Long Island’s website for more information about exhibition programs and events.
Illustration: F. Edwin Church’s “The Cow Path.”
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