Art History | Penn Today

Hey Mural Arts, graffiti is art, too. It always was

In an op-ed, doctoral candidate Razan Idris of the School of Arts & Sciences writes that Mural Arts Philadelphia’s legacy is mired by a legacy of urban racism, including discrimination against local graffiti artists.

What makes the world’s first bar joke funny? No one knows

Phillip Jones of the Penn Museum explains the history behind a Penn Museum collection of Sumerian tablets, including the world’s first documented bar joke.

Claes Oldenburg, 93, created giant sculptures that became icons of Philly

University Curator Lynn Marsden-Atlass comments on the Split Button sculpture that dominates the entrance to the Van Pelt Library.

two adults and one child look at prints hanging on a very pink wall

New Arthur Ross Gallery exhibit ‘From Studio to Doorstep’

Prints from 1934 to 2000 are featured in the current Arthur Ross Gallery exhibition, “From Studio to Doorstep,” through Aug. 21. The 37 Associated American Artists prints are part of the Penn Art Collection.

Fantasy drawing of a human overcoming inner demons.

More intricate riddles of life on ‘In These Times’

Episodes 4 and 5 of the OMNIA podcast’s fourth season cover how to confront trauma, using words as a coping mechanism, and music and meaning.

A woman wearing a visor and backpack holds a notebook in front of a stone wall with mountain views in the background

Princess Rahman on ancient history, studying abroad, and her senior-year pivot

Princess Rahman, a May graduate in the School of Arts & Sciences, pivoted from a pre-med track to become an ancient history major. After a semester abroad in Rome, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Egyptology.

Penn researchers find mental health benefits in visiting museums, including reduced anxiety

Katherine Cotter and James Pawelski of the School of Arts & Sciences are quoted on their work showing that visiting a museum can have measurable mental health benefits.

Not just seascapes: Winslow Homer’s rendering of Black humanity

Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw of the School of Arts & Sciences comments on the art of Winslow Homer.

Penn has the same sculpture that just won a major prize at Venice Biennale

Gwendolyn Dubois Shaw of the School of Arts & Sciences can see the Brick House sculpture from her office window and comments that it has become an iconic work of art on the campus at Penn.

Cartoon of hands open with books and flowers flowing from the palms.

‘In These Times: The Intricate Riddle of Life’

The first three episodes of the OMNIA podcast’s fourth season discuss the link between making art and making meaning, and how creativity shines a light on the way out of adversity in tough times, past and present.

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