“The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp evokes New Orleans’s natural environment—surrounded by bayous, lakes and wetlands near the mouth of the Mississippi River. It also alludes to the city’s unique cultural landscape as a creative force; the politically engaged jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp described jazz itself as a triumph of the human spirit, a lily that grows “in spite of …
Andrew Carnduff Ritchie Lecture
Established to honor the memory of Andrew Carnduff Ritchie, Yale University Art Gallery director from 1957 to 1971, the annual Ritchie Lectures, which are jointly sponsored by the Center and the Gallery, bring distinguished members of the international visual arts community to the university. These lectures are free and open to the public, honoring Ritchie’s belief that the art museum …
Njideka Akunyili Crosby ’11MFA Featured in W Magazine
Last month, W Magazine highlighted the work and success of Njideka Akunyili Crosby ’11MFA. At 34, Akunyili Crosby has already exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art and won numerous awards, including the Prix Canson. Many of her works explore Akunyili Crosby’s experiences of growing up in Nigeria and coming to the United States. She explains, “I wanted to put out …
Mickalene Thomas ’02MFA: Mentors, Muses, and Celebrities
From September 8 – December 31, 2017, Mickalene Thomas ’02MFA will be displaying Mentors, Muses, and Celebrities at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. The museum writes that the exhibit “recasts and reconfigures notions of beauty, gender, race, and representation.” Find more information and details here.
Jordan Casteel ’14MFA: Nights in Harlem
In her first solo exhibition with Casey Kaplan, Jordan Casteel ’14MFA will be displaying Nights in Harlem through October 28th. According to the gallery, the exhibit “presents a new series of larger-than-life oil on canvas paintings depicting black male subjects who continue to guide her practice. Inspired by the streets of Harlem at night, the artist draws from personal experiences and cultural …
Alex Da Corte ’10MFA: Slow Graffiti
Vienna Secession is featuring the first solo exhibition of Alex Da Corte ’10MFA in Europe. The gallery describes Da Corte’s artistic process for Slow Gaffiti, “The engagement with the complexity of human experience is central to his work, for instance when he explores and exposes questions of desire, sensuality, and alienation. The artist is interested in both the cultural and psychological qualities that …
Hirshhorn Museum Honors Tala Madani ’06MFA
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden will honor 31 female artists, including Tala Madani ’06MFA, at its annual gala on November 6th. Madani is an Iranian expatriate and was featured in the 2017 Whitney Biennial. According to the Hirshhorn, these artists “collective contributions to the field have transformed the way we look at art and set the stage for generations …
Allan Espiritu ’02MFA named Educator to Watch
Rutgers University-Camden fine arts professor Allan Espiritu ’02MFA was recently included in Graphic Design USA‘s “Educators to Watch” list. According to Rutgers’ press release, “More than simply imparting knowledge and skills, Espiritu hopes to serve as a role model for young artists and designers. It is paramount, he explains, that these budding artists understand that art and design is a …
Steve Giovinco ’89MFA to Photograph Effects of Climate Change in France
The French Ministry of Culture and Communication has announced it will fund Steve Giovinco ’89MFA to photographically document climate change’s ecological damage in the nation’s southern region. This effort will be part of Giovinco’s ongoing “Until the End of the World” project which has featured glacier melts in Greenland and Hurricane Sandy’s damage in Rockaway, Queens. Giovinco will work near …
Professor Sheila de Bretteville ’64MFA Leads New Haven Public Art Project
Since 2012, Professor Sheila de Bretteville ’64MFA has been developing a project called “Lighting Your Way” to improve the Route 34 underpass close to Union Station. The area is frequently used by pedestrians making the journey from the train station to downtown New Haven and other parts of the city. The effort would add motion sensor spotlights under the bridge, …