“The Culture of the Copy”: Victorians’ Obsession With Wax Flowers
Wax flowers were a major obsession of Victorian women, allowing them to combine art and industry.
The Art and Symbolism of Mourning
In the wake of the Orlando massacre, how do we as a nation use art to help with healing and mourning?
Fridolatry: Frida Kahlo and Material Culture
Frida hats, and packs, and slacks, oh my! Frida Kahlo used material culture to construct her identity—and material culture made her an icon in return.
Cindy Sherman: Before the Selfie
Before cell phones and selfies, American artist Cindy Sherman influenced the world with her monumental and ongoing series of self-portraiture.
SFMOMA: The Brave New World of Art Museums
SFMOMA celebrated its 75th anniversary with a huge architectural expansion, only rivaled by its technological innovations.
The Real Reason Fine Art Costs So Much
To outsiders, art auctions can seem like a parody of bizarre spending by wealthy people. The origins of ultra-expensive art lies in the nineteenth-century.
Artist-Designer John Preus
Artist John Preus maintains a professional design studio that uses 2nd hand materials, including discarded furniture from closed Chicago Public Schools.
Reinterpreting The Chauvet Cave Paintings
Do France’s Chauvet Cave paintings depict a contemporary volcanic eruption? Recent research argues that they do.
Power in the Painting: Faith Ringgold and her Story Quilts
Through a didactic retelling of history, artist Faith Ringgold uses her story quilts to reframe the past.
Why We Should Preserve Artist Studios
The rich historical and inspirational sites of artists’ studios and homes make them worthy of historical preservation.