5 Art Exhibits To Honor Artist's 60 Years Of Painting Historic Ellicott City

Five exhibits will kick off this month to honor local artist Wiley Purkey and the 60 years he's been painting Historic Ellicott City.

By Kristin Danley-Greiner, Patch Staff

Sep 1, 2026 10:29 AM EDT

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — Visit Howard County will host a special exhibition by local artist Wiley Purkey at the Howard County Welcome Center starting Tuesday and running through Oct. 4.

A reception will be held Thursday starting at 5 p.m. that's open to the community at the welcome center, 8267 Main St.

The exhibition features nearly 30 works inspired by the Patapsco Female Institute, including drawings in various media, watercolors, oil paintings and paper sculptures. Purkey has been creating images of the historic site since 1969, documenting its architecture and changing character for more than five decades.

The Patapsco Female Institute opened in Ellicott City in 1837 as a boarding school for young women and operated through the late 19th century. Its stabilized Greek Revival ruins are now preserved as the Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park, offering visitors an opportunity to reflect on the complex history of women's education in Maryland.

"We are honored to showcase Wiley Purkey's extraordinary body of work at the Howard County Welcome Center," said Amanda Hof, executive director of Visit Howard County. "The exhibit brings together art, history and a strong sense of place while recognizing Wiley's remarkable career and encouraging reflection on one of Howard County's most distinctive historic landmarks."

The exhibition is one of five organized throughout Howard County to commemorate Purkey's 60 years of painting Historic Ellicott City.

Concurrent exhibitions include:

Down at the Depot at the Ellicott City B&O Railroad Station Museum featuring drawings and paintings of the historic depot created from 1970 to 2026 that runs from Sept. 1-30.
The Local Landscape at The Market at Caplan's featuring plein air and studio paintings of Ellicott City and locations throughout Howard and Carroll counties that runs from Sept. 1-Oct. 15.
Recent Watercolors at Backwater Books featuring paintings of Ellicott City that runs Sept. 1-30.
Patapsco Female Institute at the Howard County Welcome Center featuring drawings and paintings created from 1969 to 2026 that runs from Sept. 1-Oct. 4.
Historic Ellicott City Decorator Showhouse that runs from Sept. 17 to Oct. 11.

These exhibitions offer visitors an opportunity to explore Purkey's extensive artistic record of Ellicott City and the surrounding landscape while visiting several of Howard County's cultural, historic and community destinations.