F. Edwin Church (1876 –1975), “Girl in Yellow”, ca. 1920A Celebrated 20th-century Portrait and Landscape Artist with Ties to Long Island's North Shore

“Making a Name for Himself: The Life & Art of F. Edwin Church, 1876–1975” showcases a range of artworks, photographs, and ephemera spanning Church’s career, including works from his life abroad and on Long Island.

Cold Spring Harbor, NY — Preservation Long Island presents 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.

 “We are thrilled to celebrate the extraordinary artistic legacy of F. Edwin Church, a painter who chose to spend the latter part of his life on Long Island’s North Shore, which is also the home of Preservation Long Island,” said Jackie Powers, Executive Director of Preservation Long Island. “This exhibition reflects our commitment to exploring the intersection of art, culture, and place. By highlighting Church’s work and his contributions to the local community, we hope visitors will gain a renewed appreciation for the North Shore’s cultural and artistic heritage at the turn of the last century.”

 “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.”

 “Thanks to the work of dedicated scholars and the opportunity to exhibit the artist’s work here on Long Island, Church’s nearly forgotten legacy and contributions to American art are now gaining recognition in the community he once called home,” noted Lauren Brincat, Preservation Long Island’s Chief Curator and Director of Collections.

 Exhibition Location, Hours and Admission

Location:

Preservation Long Island Exhibition Gallery

161 Main Street

Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724

 Suggested Admission: $5.00 or pay what you wish

 Dates: September 19 – December 21, 2025

 Hours:

Friday-Sunday from 11:00 am.– 4:00 pm

 Visit the Exhibition page for additional opening hours that may be scheduled during the exhibition.

 Public Programs

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

F. 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.

 Lenders to the Exhibition

Paintings on loan from the following collections:

 About Preservation Long Island

Preservation Long Island is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to celebrate and preserve Long Island’s diverse cultural and architectural heritage through advocacy, education, and stewardship

of historic sites and collections.

http://preservationlongisland.org 

Preservation Long Island maintains and interprets four historic sites, including the collections housed within each, that embody various aspects of Long Island’s history:

 

Joseph Lloyd Manor, Lloyd Harbor http://preservationlongisland.org/joseph-lloyd-manor/

Custom House, Sag Harbor http://preservationlongisland.org/custom-house/

Sherwood-Jayne Farm, Setauket http://preservationlongisland.org/sherwood-jayne-farm/

Old Methodist Church and Exhibition Gallery http://preservationlongisland.org/methodist-church/

Contact:

Andrea Hart, Public Affairs Director, Preservation Long Island ahart@preservationlongisland.org; 631.692.4664x108

Lauren Brincat, Chief Curator & Director of Collections, Preservation Long Island

lbrincat@preservationlongisland.org: 631.692.4664x102

 Image credit:

F. Edwin Church (1876 –1975), “Girl in Yellow”, ca. 1920. Oil on canvas, 60.25 x 40 in. (image). Courtesy of The F. Edwin Church Catalogue Raisonnée Project.