All upcoming Art & Architecture programs

Frank Lloyd Wright left an indelible signature on the American Midwest: a legacy of buildings that trace the arc of his career as one of the world’s most significant and innovative architects. This 5-day tour led by historian Bill Keene offers a one-of-kind opportunity for a close-up look at a wide range of Wright’s designs in Illinois and Wisconsin, as well as visits to seminal works by other architects of the early and mid-20th century. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

“Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900–1939” at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery illuminates the accomplishments of 60 women who crossed the Atlantic to pursue personal and professional aspirations in the vibrant cultural milieu of Paris. Robyn Asleson, the gallery’s curator of prints and drawings, provides an overview of the first exhibition to focus on the impact of American women on Paris—and of Paris on American women­—as she discusses portraits of Josephine Baker, Isadora Duncan, Zelda Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, and Anna May Wong, among others. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Art historian Sophia D’Addio of Columbia University offers an introduction to the visual culture of Renaissance Italy from the 14th through 16th centuries in a five-part series of richly illustrated programs on varying types of images, objects, and structures. She examines some of the most influential and fascinating works of the period, exploring their formal innovations and the relationships between powerful patrons and skilled artists that resulted in their creation. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)

Impressionism ignited in the rolling green countryside of Normandy, France, where Claude Monet and other local artists developed this new way of painting, shocking many traditionalists. In a spring lecture series, travel writer Barbara Noe Kennedy takes you to visit the sites where Impressionism was born and evolved—including the exact places where well-known paintings were created. Maps, photos, videos, and other visuals accompany the journey through the countryside and the Paris area. This session focuses on the origins of Impressionism. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Jesus Christ is an instantly recognizable figure, perhaps the most frequently depicted in all Western art. Since scripture does not provide a description of what Christ looked like, painters and mosaic-makers would often resort to the artistic canons of their time to create an image of the Nazarene. Renaissance art historian Elaine Ruffolo delves into some of the most impactful portrayals of Christ, uncovering how social, political, and religious contexts directly shaped the iconic image we recognize today. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Beginning in the early 19th century, the artists who came to be known as the Hudson River School of painting visited and lived in the Catskill Mountains, drawn to the region’s sublime vistas. Over the course of a three-day tour, share the perspectives of these artists as historian Paul Glenshaw explores the homes and studios of Thomas Cole, Jasper Cropsey, and Frederic Church. A private tour of the William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation collection, a visit to the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, and lunch at an innovative local farm highlight today’s Hudson Valley. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Impressionism ignited in the rolling green countryside of Normandy, France, where Claude Monet and other local artists developed this new way of painting, shocking many traditionalists. In a spring lecture series, travel writer Barbara Noe Kennedy takes you to visit the sites where Impressionism was born and evolved—including the exact places where well-known paintings were created. Maps, photos, videos, and other visuals accompany the journey through the countryside and the Paris area. This session focuses on the sites in and around Paris where Impressionist artists flourished. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Famous since the late 1920s, a century later Georgia O’Keeffe remains an icon of American art. Art historian Bonita Billman traces O’Keeffe’s life and artistic career from her upbringing in rural Wisconsin to her association with New York City’s avant-garde circle of the ’20s to her years in New Mexico, where the desert opened a new range of subject matter for her work. She also looks at the influences on O’Keeffe—including fellow artist Arthur Wesley Dow, who taught her the importance of “filling a space in a beautiful way,” and her husband, gallerist and photographer Alfred Stieglitz. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

From the vibrant paintings found in Stone Age caves to the abstract sculptures produced during the continent’s colonial period, the arts of Africa have been shaped by unique creative insight as well as by specific political, social, religious, and economic forces. In a four-part series, art historian Kevin Tervala explores these vibrant artistic expressions through an examination of the continent’s historical trajectory. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)

In the latter part of his career Michelangelo undertook remarkable architectural ventures, including projects for his childhood friends, the Medici Popes Leo X and Clement VII. However, the relationship turned sour when Michelangelo joined Florentine forces attempting to throw off the yoke of the ruling family. Art historian Elaine Ruffolo takes a close look at Michelangelo's projects for the Medici popes and the tumultuous events­—including a death warrant—that unfolded along the way. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)