On Armed Forces Day, we honor and thank the men and women serving in the U.S. military.
As part of Blue Star Museums 2026, we’re pleased to offer free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families from May 16 through September 7, 2026.
We look forward to welcoming military families this summer.
→ /visit/
#ArmedForcesDay #BlueStarMuseums #MilitaryFamilies #ThankYouForYourService #MuseumVisit
Lights of Other Days, like many of John F. Peto’s still lifes, is replete with nostalgia. Strewn along a shallow shelf above a doorframe is an array of old, well-worn objects: candleholders with wax candles nearly used up, rusty oil lamps, and torn books. These discarded commonplace objects allude to older ways of life and fading memories.
Trained in Philadelphia, Peto stopped exhibiting his work at professional venues by 1890, creating compositions instead for local patrons near his New Jersey home.
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Lights of Other Days
1906
Oil on canvas.
77.5 × 4514 cm (30 1/2 × 45 1/4 in.)
Art Institute of Chicago
#arthistory #trompeloeil #internationalart #museumlover #paintings #johnfpeto #johnfpetomuseum
Mother's Day is this weekend, and a visit to the Peto Museum is a wonderful gift for mom!
Spend time strolling our beautiful garden, take a tour of Peto's studio, explore our permanent collection, and view our current exhibition, Inspirations: A Global Cascade of Influence — From Old Souvenirs to New Voices.
Tours Available:
Saturday and Sunday: 1:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Current Exhibition:
“Inspirations: A Global Cascade of Influence — From Old Souvenirs to New Voices”
📅 On View April 19, 2026 – August 30, 2026
Learn more and get tickets → /
Private or group tours are available.
To schedule a tour, call 732-929-4949 or email [email protected].
Planning a visit to the museum? Tag your photo #PetoMuseum or @petomuseum on social media!
#johnfpetomuseum #arthistory #trompeloeil #internationalart #museumlover #exhibition #njevents #oceancountytourism #njmonthly #101thingstodo
Still Time to Register For Peto’s Art Camp 4 Kids!
Limited space available, Register Now!
CAMP DETAILS
Cost: $150 per session*
Ages: 7 – 12
Location: 102 Cedar Avenue | Island Heights, NJ 08732
Session I
July 13, 2026 - July 17, 2026
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Session II
July 13, 2026 - July 17, 2026
12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Session III
Aug 10, 2026 - Aug 14, 2026
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Session IV
Aug 10, 2026 - Aug 14, 2026
12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
*Includes a gallery exhibition of students’ work on the following Saturday
Learn more and Register → petomuseum.org
Students can be registered for and attend more than one session. If you have any questions, please call 732-929-4949 or email [email protected]
Don’t forget to tag your photos: #petomuseum when attending any of our events or exhibitions.
#islandheights #oceancountynj #petosartcamp #tomsriverlocal #artist #PetoMuseum #jerseyarts #NJMom
The Peto is proud to present The Peto Summer Concert Series. Please bring a chair and refreshments, and get ready to enjoy an evening of music in the garden!
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES:
The Pat Roddy Band
📅 Thursday, May 28th, 2026
🕖 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
UnDisputed
📅 Friday, June 19th, 2026
🕖 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
The Kootz
📅 Friday, July 17th, 2026
🕖 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Registration is not required for the summer concert series.
Don't forget cash for the 50/50 raffle!
Donations gratefully accepted.
Learn more → petomuseum.org
Attending a concert at the Peto? Don’t forget to tag your photo #PetoMuseum or @petomuseum on social media!
#explorenj #NJMonthy #NJevents #njspots #jerseybest #visitus @tomsriveronline
This Month's Upcoming Events at the Peto!
Storytime-Around-Town with the Island Heights Library
📅 Wednesday, May 6th, 2026
🕖 10:30 a.m.
Learn more → /event/16102149
FREE CONCERT: The Pat Roddy Band
📅 Thursday, May 28th, 2026
🕖 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Photo Credit: Alex Rogachenko
Learn more → /the-peto-summer-concert-series/?eid=12583
Attending an event at the Peto? Don’t forget to tag your photo #PetoMuseum or @petomuseum on social media!
#arthistory #explorenj #NJMonthy #NJevents #njspots #jerseybest #visitus @tomsriveronline
Peto’s numerous “rack” pictures were often commissioned, and many contain clues to the identities of their original owners in the objects stuck behind the crisscrossed tape.
In this example, a postcard and an envelope are clearly addressed to Dr. Bernard Goldberg, a chiropodist and a neighbor of Peto’s in Philadelphia. The doctor may well have asked the artist to make the painting. Among the items depicted is a portrait, presumably of the doctor, perhaps representing an actual photograph taken by Peto.
As seen here, Peto strove for decorative effects of color and texture and was less interested in illusionistic realism than was William Michael Harnett.
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Office Board
1885
Oil on canvas.
24 3/8 x 19 7/8 in. (61.9 x 50.5 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art NY, NY
#arthistory #trompeloeil #internationalart #museumlover #paintings #johnfpeto #johnfpetomuseum
Register now for Peto’s Art Camp 4 Kids!
Limited space available, Register Now!
CAMP DETAILS
Cost: $150 per session*
Ages: 7 – 12
Location: 102 Cedar Avenue | Island Heights, NJ 08732
*Includes a gallery exhibition of students’ work on the following Saturday
JULY 2026
Monday, July 13, 2026 to Friday, July 17, 2026
Session I 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Session II 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Children’s Exhibit: Saturday, July 18, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
AUGUST 2026
Monday, August 10, 2026 to Friday, August 14, 2026
Session III 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Session II 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Children’s Exhibit: Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Learn more and Register → petomuseum.org
Students can be registered for and attend more than one session. If you have any questions, please call 732-929-4949 or email [email protected]
Don’t forget to tag your photos: #petomuseum when attending any of our events or exhibitions.
#islandheights #oceancountynj #petosartcamp #tomsriverlocal #artist #PetoMuseum #jerseyarts #NJMom
There is still time to join us this weekend for a tour of our new exhibition, Inspirations: A Global Cascade of Influence — From Old Souvenirs to New Voices. This international exhibition brings together works by ÀNI artists from five countries, each a personal reflection on what inspires them to create.
“Inspirations: A Global Cascade of Influence — From Old Souvenirs to New Voices”
📅 April 19, 2026 – August 30, 2026
🎟️ Saturday and Sunday Tours: 1:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Learn more and get tickets → /
Private or group tours are available.
To schedule a tour, call 732-929-4949 or email [email protected].
Planning a visit to the museum? Tag your photo #PetoMuseum or @petomuseum on social media!
#johnfpetomuseum #arthistory #trompeloeil #internationalart #museumlover #exhibition #njevents #oceancountytourism #njmonthly #101thingstodo
The museum is now open weekends for guided tours (spring through fall).
📅 Saturday: 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM
📅 Sunday: 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM
All tours are docent-guided and include the permanent collection and the current exhibit on display. Walk-ins welcome.
Group Tours & Private Tours by Appointment.
Contact Us for More Information → /visit/
#arthistory #museumlover #exhibition #paintings #NJMonthy #visitus
#takeatour
We had a great members-only opening this weekend with @aniartacademies for the new exhibition, Inspirations: A Global Cascade of Influence — From Old Souvenirs to New Voices. This international exhibition brings together works by ÀNI artists from five countries, each a personal reflection on what inspires them to create.
“Inspirations: A Global Cascade of Influence — From Old Souvenirs to New Voices”
📅 April 19, 2026 – August 30, 2026
🎟️ Saturday and Sunday Tours: 1:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Learn more and get tickets → /
Private or group tours are available.
To schedule call 732-929-4949 or email [email protected].
#johnfpeto #johnfpetomuseum #arthistory #trompeloeil #internationalart #museumlover #exhibition #paintings
