Talks

Join us for VMFA's Annual Paul Mellon Lecture. Hélène Delalex, Senior Curator at the Palace of Versailles, will present a fascinating journey through the art of the horse in court culture of the ancien régime.

The equestrian traditions that developed within princely courts of early modern Europe demonstrated a remarkable symbiosis among art, power, and equine passion. They shaped court etiquette, structured aristocratic social life, and defined the language of prestige and power.

Equestrian art reached unparalleled heights in royal riding schools, particularly at Versailles. There, scholars codified the principles of horsemanship, turning it into an art form. The elegance of movement and the reach of perfect harmony between rider and mount reflected the aristocratic ideal of mastery and distinction.

Established in memory of Paul Mellon—the museum’s longest serving trustee and one of its most generous benefactors—the Paul Mellon Lecture is presented annually by a distinguished scholar to foster the study and appreciation of the arts and is supported by the Paul Mellon Endowment.

If you cannot attend in person, enjoy our livestream from the comfort of home.

Kimberli Gant (left), Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art, Brooklyn Museum, will be in conversation with Valerie Cassel Oliver (right), Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, VMFA. They will discuss the process of configuring the exhibition Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys. Gant will share how she sought to maintain the ethos and philosophy behind the Deans' vision for the exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum and subsequent presentations that now include VMFA. 
 
ASL interpretation to be provided during this program. 
Livestream available to watch from home.

Inspired by Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, this gallery talk will explore three works of art in the museum's permanent collection. These are works by three artists also represented in the special exhibition. VMFA's Izzie Fuqua, educator for the exhibition, will lead you through the 21st-Century Art Gallery where you will learn about the art-making methods of these artists and how life events and society inspired their work.

IMAGE Soundsuit (detail), 2011, Nick Cave (American, born 1959), fabric, sequins, embroidery, mannequin. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Pamela K. and William A. Royall, Jr., 2018.439a-b

Inspired by Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, this gallery talk will explore three works of art in the museum's permanent collection. These are works by three artists also represented in the special exhibition. VMFA's Izzie Fuqua, educator for the exhibition, will lead you through the 21st-Century Art Gallery where you will learn about the art-making methods of these artists and how life events and society inspired their work.

IMAGE Soundsuit (detail), 2011, Nick Cave (American, born 1959), fabric, sequins, embroidery, mannequin. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of Pamela K. and William A. Royall, Jr., 2018.439a-b