All upcoming Art & Architecture programs

Turkey possesses one of the world’s most fascinating histories and richest cultural heritages. It is at once both Eastern and Western, ancient and modern, Christian and Islamic, sensual and austere. A seminar led by independent scholar Nigel McGilchrist pays tribute to this complexity, celebrating the dramatic beauty of Turkey’s landscapes and its wealth of historic monuments and archaeological treasures. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Discover three of New York City's most renowned cultural treasures. Spend an afternoon at the Frick Collection with artwork spanning from the Renaissance to the early 20th century; get a private tour of the Neue Galerie New York before opening hours to see the main collection and a special exhibition of German masterworks from 1890 to 1940; and take a guided tour of the Morgan Library & Museum, then explore its 350,000-plus illuminated manuscripts, rare books, manuscripts, and drawings on your own. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Discover the power of reflective writing guided by the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, Mary Hall Surface. Inspired by 20th-century artist Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings of the New Mexican desert, participants slow down, look closely, and reflect on the transformative power of place in our lives.

In mid-19th-century France, artists responded to sweeping societal changes by rejecting Romanticism and embracing Realism. Led by Gustave Courbet and Honoré Daumier, the movement depicted everyday life and challenged elite Salon audiences. Art historian Nancy G. Heller explores Realism’s evolution, highlighting its impact on painting, sculpture, photography, and literature. She traces its spread beyond France to Germany, Italy, and America, where it influenced Thomas Eakins and the Ashcan School, emphasizing social truth over idealized beauty. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

The layers of history are vividly felt on Sicily. A crossroads of civilizations, it has been shaped over millennia by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, and Normans, each leaving a distinctive mark on the island’s art and architecture. Art historian Elaine Ruffolo leads a journey through Sicily’s extraordinary artistic heritage, revealing how each era left its mark across the island. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

In the late 19th century, American artists studied in Paris, embracing Impressionism’s bright palette and broken brushwork. Returning home to exhibit and teach, they formed “The Ten,” exhibiting for 20 years. By 1918, shifting art movements and global events rendered Impressionism outdated. In a four-part series, art historian Bonita Billman explores these artists’ defining style, subjects, and masterpieces that contributed to American art history. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)

Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for a course of three online workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts. The sessions spotlight a diverse range of visual art chosen to inspire writers of all experience levels to deepen their process and practice. This writing session is inspired by The Mother and Sister of the Artist by Berthe Morisot.

During the first several centuries of the first millennium, the Syrian desert oasis of Palmyra was a crucial link in an overland trade network that stretched from Rome to India. The profits of this trade were invested in stunning monuments and works of art that fused Western and Eastern sensibilities. Historian Justin M. Jacobs explores the history of UNESCO World Heritage Site Palmyra, its monuments and sculptures, and its fate during the Syrian civil war.

Celebrate Michelangelo’s 551st birthday by exploring the making of one of history’s most brilliant artistic minds. Born on March 6, 1475, Michelangelo Buonarroti lived nearly 89 years, witnessing Renaissance Florence, the discovery of the New World, the Reformation, and the reigns of 13 popes. He transformed Western art through sculpture, painting, architecture, and poetry. Though many believed his talent miraculous, Michelangelo studied with discipline, learning from masters and experimenting with styles. Art historian Elaine Ruffolo traces the journey of young Michelangelo from Lorenzo il Magnifico’s household to his masterpiece, the “David.” (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)