Fine Art

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology — known as The Penn Museum — has hired refugees and immigrants from the Middle East, Africa and Central America as part of their "Global Guides" program. Moumena Saradar, who is ori

Arts

Refugee Docents Help Bring A Museum's Global Collection To Life

6:26pm February 17, 2020

by Neda Ulaby

Attendance at Philadelphia's Penn Museum has shot up since the Global Guides first tours in 2018. The refugee and immigrant docents receive training in archaeology, ancient history and story-telling.

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Years ago, John Sonsini began approaching men in Los Angeles who were looking for work â and offering them modeling jobs. The results are on view in a show called Cowboy Stories & New Paintings. Above, Saul & Lorenzo, 2008.

Arts

Artist Says His Portraits Of Day Laborers Are Paintings — Not Statements

7:21am February 13, 2020

by Susan Stamberg

Years ago, John Sonsini began approaching men in Los Angeles who were looking for work — and offering them modeling jobs. The results are on view in a show called Cowboy Stories & New Paintings.

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An Art Critic Was Mocking A $20,000 Work She Didn't Like — Then It Shattered

6:31pm February 10, 2020

by Laurel Wamsley

The sculpture by Mexican artist Gabriel Rico included a large pane of glass with objects suspended within. How it suddenly broke into pieces on Saturday is a matter of fervent disagreement.

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama stand next to their newly unveiled portraits during a ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery on Feb. 12, 2018. The portraits are set to go on a yearlong tour to five citie

Arts

Obamas' Portraits Going On Tour Next Year

7:50pm February 07, 2020

by Isabella Gomez Sarmiento

The National Portrait Gallery unveiled the official portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama two years ago this month. Now it is sending them on a yearlong tour to five cities.

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A Creative Take On The Mona Lisa Is Up For Sale In Paris

7:10am February 06, 2020

The work of art is made entirely of Rubik's Cubes — all the little colored squares create a kind of mosaic. It's expected to sell at auction for more than $160,000.

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A New (And Final) Clue To 'Kryptos,' A Long-Standing Puzzle

4:24pm January 30, 2020

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Jim Sanborn, creator of a cryptographic puzzle sculpture called "Kryptos" located at CIA headquarters, about his decision to release a third and final clue.

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2020 Winter Show Highlights Artist Andrew LaMar Hopkins

5:49am January 29, 2020

The Winter Show — an annual antique and art exhibition — is on view this week in New York City. Paintings by Andrew LaMar Hopkins, a self-taught folk artist based in New Orleans, are on display.

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London Museum Explores 5 Centuries Of Pregnancy Portraits

7:56am January 26, 2020

by Lulu Garcia-Navarro

An exhibit at the Foundling Museum shows pregnant women from the age of Holbein to the time of social media, exploring changing cultural attitudes. We talk with curator Karen Hearn.

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Arts

What A Way To Go: Even As He Died, Manet Made Life-Affirming Art

11:49am January 10, 2020

by Susan Stamberg

In his last years, as he was dying of complications from syphilis, artist Édouard Manet was in agonizing pain — but you'd never know it from his exquisite flower bouquets and vibrant portraits.

Arts

John Baldessari, Conceptual Art Pioneer, Has Died

4:31pm January 08, 2020

by Mandalit del Barco

Artist John Baldessari died last Thursday at his home in Venice, Calif. The artist helped shape not just a movement — conceptual art — but the LA art scene itself. He was 88.