Artists on Artworks Celebrates One Year at the Met

Participants hear Lisa Corinne Davis's perspective on Henri Matisse's The Three O'Clock Sitting. Image by Marianna Siciliano

«On Friday, September 20, the fall season of Artists on Artworks began as visitors gathered in the Vélez Blanco Patio to meet artist Lisa Corinne Davis, who led a tour of the galleries and an hour-long discussion of a few paintings that she had personally selected. During the tour, Davis shared her perspective as a painter, talking about the choices that artists make as they are creating a new work—including what they choose to include and not include in terms of both subject and composition.» For instance, during a conversation in front of Henri Matisse's The Three O'Clock Sitting, visitors noticed a brown object on the floor in the middle of the room the painting depicted. The group had discussed what the object might be before Davis shared her insight that, regardless of what the object represents, its role within the composition is to anchor the viewer's eye.

Artist Lisa Corinne Davis discusses Niccolò di Pietro's Saint Ursula and Her Maidens in the New European Paintings Galleries, 1250–1800. Image by Marianna Siciliano

Davis's gallery talk not only kicked off our series of fall talks, but also marked the first anniversary of the Artists on Artworks series here at the Met. One Friday evening each month visitors are invited to see the collections and exhibitions through an artist's eyes, as the speaker discusses works of art that have influenced or resonated with his or her own work.

I hope that you will join us for one of our upcoming Artists on Artworks talks this fall: Each program starts at 6:30 p.m., and is limited to 45 people unless otherwise noted; tickets are distributed 30 minutes prior in Gallery 534, Vélez Blanco Patio.

October 25

Kate Loudoun-Shand. Textile designs for Fred Shand. Image by Brad Bridgers

Textile designer Kate Loudoun-Shand, developer of the distinctive home-textile line Fred Shand, shares her perspective on works of art currently on view in the exhibition Interwoven Globe: The Worldwide Textile Trade, 1500–1800. Please note: This event is limited to 25 people; tickets are distributed 30 minutes prior to the talk in Gallery 534, Vélez Blanco Patio.

November 22

David Brooks. Image courtesy of the artist

The project-based work of David Brooks investigates the relationship between cultural concerns and the natural world, and his practice is informed by fieldwork with specialists who study fish and birds, as well as conservation biologists throughout South Florida and South America.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the Artists on Artworks talks during our upcoming winter season as well!

December 20

The work of Mariah Robertson explores the relationship between figuration and abstraction, going beyond the traditional practice of photography by incorporating installation and sculpture.

January 24

New York-based artists Igor and Svetlana Kopystiansky will discuss their video "Incidents," currently on view in the exhibition Everyday Epiphanies: Photography and Daily Life Since 1969.

February 21

Jeffrey Gibson creates abstract geometric paintings and sculpture that draw from his Native American identity as well as strong modernist influences. Gibson will share his perspective on works of art in the exhibition The American West in Bronze, 1850–1925. Please note: This event is limited to 25 people; tickets are distributed 30 minutes prior to the talk in Gallery 534, Vélez Blanco Patio.