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Art History

25 years of ‘LOVE’
dramatic light on Robert Indiana’s LOVE statue on Penn’s caption.

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25 years of ‘LOVE’

The iconic sculpture by pop artist Robert Indiana arrived on campus in 1999 and soon became a natural place to come together.

Louisa Shepard

Civil Rights photography at the Penn Libraries
Time of Change Civil Rights Photography of Bruce Davidson with two photos

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Civil Rights photography at the Penn Libraries

A new collaboration between the Penn Art Collection and the Penn Libraries has mounted its first exhibition on the fifth floor of the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center. “Time of Change: Civil Rights Photography of Bruce Davidson” is on view through May 20.

Louisa Shepard

‘Black Modernisms in the Transatlantic World’
Bronze sculpture of a large bust of a Black woman on Penn’s campus surrounded by autumn leaves

The 16-foot-tall bronze form of “Brick House” by artist Simone Leigh, who contributed to “Black Modernisms.”

(Image: Eric Sucar)

‘Black Modernisms in the Transatlantic World’

A new book, co-edited by art historian Huey Copeland, examines the conception of modernism and Black artistry and agency and how the transatlantic slave trade enabled the modern world.

Kristina Linnea García

Encountering rare texts in the Penn Libraries 
Two people looking at large COVID posters on a table in the Kislak Libary.

COVID-19 propaganda posters in Chinese; Wuhan, China; 2020

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Encountering rare texts in the Penn Libraries 

Undergraduate history of art majors organized an event at the Penn Libraries featuring 10 rare texts, out on a table and open for anyone to see, ranging from a manuscript dated to about the year 850 to COVID-19 posters from 2020.

Louisa Shepard

Arthur Ross Gallery celebrates its 40th anniversary
Entrance to the Arthur Ross Gallery with a sign that says Celebrating 40 years and Goya

The Arthur Ross Gallery celebrates its 40th anniversary with the exhibition “Goya: Prints from the Arthur Ross Collection,” featuring rare first-edition prints by Spanish artist Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes. 

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Arthur Ross Gallery celebrates its 40th anniversary

The Arthur Ross Gallery celebrates its 40th anniversary with the opening of an exhibition featuring rare first-edition prints by Spanish artist Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes.

Louisa Shepard

Showcasing an Andean cosmovision
A group of people gather in front of a colorful mural depicting a series of stylized birds. Confetti rains.

Roberto Mamani Mamani (in grey jacket at center) celebrates the dedication of his new mural, “Mallkuanka—Vuelo Surnorte De Colors,” or the “South-North flight of colors.” The mural conveys the power of people, nature, and animals living in harmony with one another and giving back to Mother Earth, says Catherine Bartch.

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Showcasing an Andean cosmovision

In a monthlong residency, Aymara artist Roberto Mamani Mamani met with students, gave a lecture, hosted a workshop, and painted a mural in South Philadelphia.

Kristina Linnea García

Who, What, Why: Tamir Williams on Black visibility in Chicago’s nightclubs
Tamir Williams sits on outdoor steps, smiling.

Tamir Williams, pictured outside of the Fisher Fine Arts Library, is a Ph.D. candidate in History of Art in the School of Arts & Sciences. 

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Who, What, Why: Tamir Williams on Black visibility in Chicago’s nightclubs

Williams discusses their exhibition showcasing the photographs of Wharton alumnus Michael Abramson, who captured scenes from Black nightclubs in Chicago in the 1970s.
Virtual reality in an ancient world
Peter Decherney and students in a warehouse in the Penn Museum.

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Virtual reality in an ancient world

Students create films to document the reimagining of the Penn Museum’s Ancient Egypt and Nubia galleries.

Louisa Shepard

Exploring heritage in all corners of the humanities
Detail of the painting “Pleasure Pillars” by Shahzia Sikander.

Detail of “Pleasure Pillars” by Shahzia Sikander.

(Image: Courtesy of Shahzia Sikander Studio via Wolf Humanities Center)

Exploring heritage in all corners of the humanities

Fellows of the 2022-2023 Undergraduate Humanities Forum share their collaborative research on “The World We Inherit.”

From Omnia

By the Numbers: Six years of The Sachs Program student grants
Distorted visions of people in a grid-like mirror

Untitled, 1974-1977, gelatin sliver print. Tamir Williams, a Ph.D. candidate in History of Art and Sachs Program student grantee, will curate an exhibition titled A Space to Appear, A Space to Tarry, which will present works from the photographic series “Black Nightclubs on Chicago’s South Side” (1975-1977) by Penn alumnus Michael Abramson. The exhibition and supplemental programming is anticipated in the summer and fall 2023, and will be presented at a Penn-affiliated gallery and at a collective art space in Philadelphia.

(Image: Michael Abramson)

By the Numbers: Six years of The Sachs Program student grants

This week, The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation announced its latest round of spring grants for students, and Penn Today offers a by-the-numbers look at the Program’s investment in students to date.