Patchwork Exhibition at the Florence Griswold Museum
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This post is a paid partnership with the Connecticut Office of Tourism. All opinions expressed are my own.
If you love history, art, and nature, the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme needs to be on your list of museums to visit in Connecticut. This year, the museum has a special exhibition called Patchwork: Connecticut Artists Consider 250 for the 250th anniversary of the United States. The exhibition showcases the perspective of today’s Connecticut artists. Given the history of the Florence Griswold House, there’s no better spot for an exhibition like this.
History of the Florence Griswold Museum
The Florence Griswold Museum is named after Florence Griswold. In the late 1890s, she was left her family home, as well as the costs of its upkeep, as an unmarried woman. After financial hardships, she transformed her former family home into a boarding house.
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In 1899, artist Henry Ward Ranger arrived in Old Lyme after having recently returned from Europe. He saw the town as the ideal setting for a school of landscape painting. He took up residence at the Griswold House because it offered a stimulating environment, affordable lodging, and picturesque scenery. This was when the birth of the Lyme Art Colony happened.
The Lyme Art Colony was one of the largest and most significant art colonies in the United States. Artists were inspired by the New England countryside, and Miss Florence’s gracious hospitality was also a large part of the colony’s success. It flourished for over three decades and more than 200 artists stayed at the Griswold House.
If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the museum, you can read about it on the Florence Griswold Museum’s website.
About the Patchwork Exhibition
For this exhibition, the museum is showcasing the perspective of today’s Connecticut artists. Florence Griswold invited contemporary artists of her time to her home and grounds, and this exhibition is meant to honor that legacy and the Lyme Art Colony that once thrived in Old Lyme.
For submissions, artists were asked to consider the nation’s founding ideals and how we continue to realize them today. There are four themes: Telling Inclusive Stories, Power of Place, Doing History, and For the Common Good. There are ninety-seven works on display from eighty-six Connecticut artists.
Learn more: Patchwork: Connecticut Artists Consider 250
My thoughts After Seeing Patchwork
I have been extremely excited about this event. A couple months ago, I saw artists posting their pieces that were selected for the exhibition, and I was extremely impressed with what I saw. As an artist myself, I absolutely love viewing art.
One thing that stood out to me personally while I was going through the exhibit was that I recognized a lot of places featured in the artwork. I have lived in Connecticut for my entire life, and I loved getting to see places I know and love showcased in a museum setting like this. As someone who spends a lot of time photographing Connecticut, this was really special for me.
While I was in the exhibition, I immediately recognized a certain scene in a painting and I sent it to my boyfriend and asked, “Recognize this spot?” He immediately responded with a description of exactly where it was. We love driving backroads in Connecticut, and this is a road we both love to take for scenic drives.
I was also impressed with how many different mediums of art there were. There were traditional pieces as well as some truly unique pieces on display. I was so impressed with what the Connecticut artists produced. I’m also proud that we have such an incredible community of artists and creatives in our state.
I loved seeing the different takes the artists had. Some went the patriotic route when considering 250. Red, white, and blue and flags definitely fit the bill, and each artist that went this route showed their unique perspectives in various mediums.
Others created pieces that didn’t scream patriotism, but they were very much a great representation of America and its unique culture and everyday moments. It’s a great reminder that art doesn’t have to always have a grand subject to be meaningful.
There’s a gallery guide that will give you all of the information about each of the artworks on display. Each artwork is numbered so it’s easy to find the information about each piece in the booklet. You can also take the gallery guide home with you.
Other Things To Do At The Museum
There’s a lot to see and do at the Florence Griswold Museum. If you’re planning to visit for the exhibition, be sure to give yourself enough time to also explore the rest of the museum grounds. During my visit to see Patchwork, I was at the museum for three hours between exploring the galleries, the grounds, the house, and dining at the restaurant (and that’s as someone who has visited the grounds and house many times in the past).
Tour The Florence Griswold House
The Florence Griswold House is a part of your paid admission for the museum. You’ll enter the house through the backside. There are signs to help point you in the correct direction. The door is a bit sticky, so you might have to push it a bit to get it open. The house is quite old, and sticky doors come with the territory. Usually, a docent will come to your rescue if you’re struggling to get it open.
When you enter the house, you’ll go into the room on the right. This is where you’ll find a docent or two. A docent will give you a guided tour around the first floor of the house and give you great information about Florence Griswold and the art colony.
The first floor of the house is set up to show you what the house would have looked like when it was a boarding house. It’s really quite incredible. Below are some photos I took during my visit to see the Patchwork exhibition.
After you tour the first floor, you’ll be able to go up to the second floor of the house. The second floor serves as more of a gallery. There are some informational signs that give you some background on the area, the artists, Florence Griswold, and the colony in addition to the paintings on display. Below are some photos I took on the second floor during this visit.
Explore The Grounds
The property is stunning. There’s a historic garden and views of the Lieutenant River. It’s easy to see how this spot inspired so many artists. As an artist myself, I frequent the grounds of the museum to take photos throughout the year. I’m very lucky to live near this beautiful property.
While I’ve taken countless images of the grounds throughout the years, the photos below are ones I took walking the grounds during my visit to see the Patchwork exhibition.
There are also some exterior buildings you can check out during your visit.
Dine At Café Flo
This visit was actually my first time dining at Café Flo. I’ve always known it’s there, but I’m usually visiting the grounds after they’ve already closed or during a season that they are not open. I figured it was about time I dine there since it was awarded “Best Restaurant with a View – Connecticut” this year by Yankee Magazine editors in their May/June 2026 issue.
When I went, I quickly learned that it is best to get a reservation if you’d like to dine here. I was able to get a table because I went right when they opened. I got a table with great views of the Lieutenant River.
Since it was my first time, I decided to go all out. I got a drink, an appetizer, soup, and dessert. I also got a lemonade to drink.
For food, I started with shishito peppers with feta, followed by tomato orzo soup, and then a flourless chocolate torte with creme anglaise. The shishito peppers appetizer was one of their specials, and I was told they change the menu every two weeks.
Final Thoughts
I’ll start by saying there’s no bad time to visit the Florence Griswold Museum. It’s open year-round and they have amazing events throughout the year. One of my favorite annual events is the Holiday Magic at the Florence Griswold Museum. This museum is an absolute treasure.
In terms of the Patchwork exhibition on display right now for the United States of America’s 250th anniversary, I’d say it’s absolutely worth visiting. I think it’s interesting to see artwork from contemporary artists in relation to the 250th anniversary. This exhibition is so fitting for the Florence Griswold Museum, which was the heart of the Lyme Art Colony. This exhibition shows that art is still bringing us together, even over a century later.
Find more things to do in town: Things To Do In Old Lyme, Connecticut
Find more ways to celebrate the 250th this year in Connecticut: Connecticut Celebrates the 250th Anniversary | CT Visit
