Patricia Moss-Vreeland explores memory as a meditation on who we are. Her paintings, drawings, prints, mixed media collages, and artist books evoke an awakening of feelings, experiences, and imagery embedded in our everyday memories, probing the unexplored territory where art and science meet.
Incorporating close to two decades of research into the functioning of the human brain and the construction of memory, Moss-Vreeland’s work was hailed by the Baltimore Sun as “an invitation to think differently” about memory and the creative process. She works in a range of diverse media and genres, incorporating poetry at times to suggest the ways that language and memory are intertwined. Her visual compositions are metaphoric narratives, designed to slow us down, inviting close observation and reflection. Representing both the natural world and the rhythms and patterns of our brains at work, they create a sensory universe pulsing with connections.
Moss-Vreeland has always approached her art with a multi-disciplinary perspective, and believes in the promise of sharing different forms of knowledge about our place in this world. She recently expanded her artistic practice to include workshops, presentations, residencies, collaborative public participatory events, and wrote and designed the artist’s book, A Place for Memory: Where Art and Science Meet.
Patricia Moss-Vreeland’s paintings, drawings, and mixed-media works have been exhibited nationally at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Institute of Contemporary Art. Her art resides in many permanent collections, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and The Norton Museum. She exhibited her work at the Locks Gallery in Philadelphia for two decades. Moss-Vreeland was selected through a national competition to design the Memorial Room for the Holocaust Museum Houston. In 1997, this permanent installation earned four awards, including the American Institute of Architects Honor Award in Design, and the Spectrum International Award in Design. Moss-Vreeland went on to receive the Art-in-Science XIV Millennial commission for a traveling exhibition, Memory-Connections Matter, at the Esther Klein Gallery, University City Science Center, Philadelphia. At the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, the exhibition was the central focus for the Fields of Mind Conference, featuring Moss-Vreeland as a keynote speaker.
Moss-Vreeland's work was included in The New York Hall of Science, Walter.O.Lecroy Gallery, Science Inspires Art: The Brain, 2015, and was invited to have the Solo Exhibition and talk, A Parallel Universe, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, April 2016, for their 25th Anniversary of Neuroscience. She was interviewed for the Interalia Magazine's Memory Networks Issue, September-October 2016. In 2017, was invited to have a Solo Exhibition: Revelations and Transformation, Layers of Memory, at the Penn Memory Center, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, Philadelphia, PA. She is a TedX speaker, May 2015.
Shipley's new Head of Lower School, Tim Bickhart, is also the parent of Henry '28 and Jack '33. Learn more about what he loves most about elementary-aged children, what he considers to be great teaching, and what inspires him.
Join us on Saturday, September 27th at Super Saturday, a favorite Shipley tradition. The day-long excitement includes a kids' carnival, a free community barbecue, athletic events, and much more. Gather the family, wear your Shipley gear, and celebrate being a Gator!
With more than 75 clubs, ensembles, committees, and affinity groups, Shipley’s Upper School provides students with daily opportunities to explore their interests, develop leadership skills, and build community through a wide range of extracurricular activities.
Shipley’s Middle School Science Olympiad introduces students in grades six through eight to competitive science. Guided by teacher John Harris, the program blends hands-on problem solving with real-world application, inspiring curiosity in engineering, physics, biology, and more.
When Ian Craig stepped onto Shipley’s campus this summer as its 11th Head of School, he did so with a deeply rooted belief in the power of relationships and a steady commitment to what he calls “the work that matters.” With 20 years of experience as a head of school across a range of educational settings, Craig brings to Shipley not only expertise but also humility, humor, and heart. Learn more about Ian Craig.
Julia Fisher Farbman ’08 has built a career telling powerful stories. Her latest film, Audrey’s Children, honors pioneering oncologist Dr. Audrey Evans. Read this profile from the Summer/Fall 2025 issue of Shipley Magazine.
Marion Swett Robinson ’65 built a groundbreaking career in global finance, rising to senior leadership and helping shape modern markets through ISDA. Today, she extends her impact and support of others through wellness initiatives and nonprofit board service.
Shipley’s Middle School offers extracurricular opportunities that spark curiosity, build confidence, and foster connection. From Friday Clubs and gardening to creative writing and theater, students explore interests, develop new talents, and strengthen community beyond the classroom.
Lower School extracurriculars showcase how Shipley nurtures exploration at every age. This story is part of a broader look at how students develop confidence, creativity, and community beyond the classroom at Shipley. Learn more in this story from the Summer/Fall 2025 Shipley Magazine.
From mandolin and debate clubs to SWINE and Sprouts, Shipley’s extracurricular life has reflected student passions for more than a century. This archival look traces the evolution of activities that have shaped the experiences of generations of Shipley students.
Beginning January 5, 2026, Shipley’s Upper School will adopt a cellphone-free school day policy, building on a successful pilot and reflecting the School’s commitment to student well-being, engagement, and community connection.
In 2024–2025, 19 Shipley students earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy, a nationally recognized credential demonstrating proficiency in English and another language. Students achieved this distinction in Spanish, French, and Mandarin.
Learn about Shipley from members of the Class of 2025, who reflect on their journeys, celebrate meaningful relationships, and share the wide range of academic, artistic, and athletic experiences that shaped their time here.
Read about the life and legacy of Gary Gruber, Shipley’s Head of School from 1985 to 1992, a deeply compassionate and visionary educator who guided Shipley through a pivotal chapter of growth, change, and renewed purpose.
It's easier than ever to stay connected and in the know about all things Shipley with our new mobile app. From calendars and lunch menus to photo galleries, directories, and ShipleyNet, the app keeps everything you need right at your fingertips. It also brings you content from Shipley’s main social media accounts.
Thirteen members of Shipley’s Class of 2025—including student-athletes in soccer, basketball, lacrosse, softball, squash, swimming, and track—will continue to compete at the collegiate level, carrying their talents and Gator pride to campuses nationwide.
Shipley’s Track program delivered a strong year, with athletes earning championship titles and multiple medals across winter and spring meets in running, throwing, and jumping events.
Richard Liu ’25 founded Shipley’s Mock Trial Club as a tenth grader. Now with more than 30 members, the club competes statewide while fostering skills in public speaking, analysis, and collaborative learning.
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.