Art-Themed Topics
See below for a list of art-themed topics (and counting) available for in-person or virtual lectures.
ART STARs - art history
PICASSO & HIS WOMEN
Pablo Picasso’s expressive style evolved along with his relationships throughout his life. Learn about the complicated situations with the loves of his life, including all his wives, girlfriends, muses, daughters and patrons and how each influenced this legendary artist.
THE JUDITH LEIBER LEGACY
Debbie Wells shares her first-hand experience curating exhibitions for Judith Leiber. Hear the story behind Leiber's handbag fashion empire and see countless examples of her bejeweled purses. Special thanks to Anne Stewart, Leiber Collection Curator for collaborating!
DVF & ASHLEY LONGSHORE
Diane von Furstenberg is one of the great fashion designers. She opened her studio headquarters in NYC to display a collection of Pop artist Ashley Longshore's paintings of powerful women. Learn about these two women and the amazing women portrayed in the art collection.
ANDY WARHOL: POP ART & CELEBRITY
Andy Warhol was at the forefront of the Pop Art movement, a regular at Studio 54 and a symbol of modern culture. However, there is more much to learn about this enigmatic man from Pittsburgh. Let Artful Buzz uncover his story and reveal a retrospective of his artwork.
THE HALSTON LEGACY
Get the story of Halston straight from interviews with his loving niece, who is determined to keep her iconic uncle's fashion legacy alive. Learn about his Midwestern roots, his rise to fame and legendary achievements and collaborations throughout his career.
LOUIS COMFORT TIFFANY: LIFE & LEGACY
Louis Comfort Tiffany, the artist son of the famed jewelry store icon, was a major player during the Gilded Age. Learn about the man, his family life on Long Island and NYC and how he built his business of stained glass into art that hangs in churches, museums and private collections worldwide.
GEORGIA O'KEEFFE: A LOOK UP CLOSE
Explore the life of Georgia O’Keeffe through her art and fashion. Born in the midwest, she met (and married) the influential Albert Stieglitz in New York. He helped catapult her career to great heights. Learn about Georgia's artful adventures in upstate New York, the American West, even Hawaii!
ARTFUL CRASH COURSE: CLAUDE MONET
Inspired by the popular immersive exhibitions, we tell the story of Monet as a leader of the Impressionism observing the changes in color and light outdoors while painting en-plein-air. Giverny, his home and gardens, remains to be one of the beautiful art destinations in Europe.
EDWARD HOPPER: WHAT IS HOPPERESQUE?
Inspired by the retrospective at the Whitney and a visit to Hopper House in Nyack, enjoy this look at Edward Hopper. Explore his childhood home, his apartment in Greenwich Village and share his views of NYC with his signature style.
NIKI DE SAINT PHALLE: WORLD OF WONDER
Discover the fanciful and colorful expanse of work created by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle. From her exhibition at MoMA PS1 to the Tarot Garden in Tuscany, it is an artful adventure enjoying her world of wonder. Her relationships and creative philosophy are also explored.
GERTRUDE STEIN: ICONIC ART INFLUENCER
American Gertrude Stein became a fixture on the Parisian art and literary scene with her companion Alice B. Toklas. They hosted legendary salons and were huge patrons of creatives from Picasso to Hemingway. Learn about her life and how she became a leading influencer of modern art.
DALE CHIHULY: WORLD OF GLASS
American artist Dale Chihuly is a master of creative glassmaking. Though viewing his incredible glass works large and small, learn about the artist's life, creative process and why his unparalleled use of color, shape and texture is beloved worldwide.
BASQUIAT: ART ON THE STREET & MORE
Jean-Michel Basquiat started as a street artist and quickly reached fame as a Neo-Expressionist. Although he died of a drug overdose at age 27, his life was filled with the unexpected from dating Madonna, collaborating with Warhol, and breaking art sales records in the mutli-millions.
FRIDA KAHLO: HER ART & FASHION
Learn about the life, loves, art, health and fashion of this Mexican artist, including her stormy marriage to Mexican muralist Diego Rivera and their life together at Casa Azul. Inspired by outstanding recent exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum, NY Botanical Gardens and the Parrish Museum.
PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: HER ART OBSESSION
From NYC to Paris to Venice, Peggy Guggenheim was a leading patron of the arts. Her unique style and love of all things art was fully integrated into her relationships and professional projects. Learn about her incredible life and the many marks she has left on the art world never to be forgotten.
AN ARTIST INSIDE WARHOL'S WORLD
Learn about Richard Bernstein through interviews with the founder of his estate and how the artist created countless Interview Magazine cover portraits and other innovative art. Today, he is finally getting well-deserved recognition for his contribution to Pop art.
STANFORD WHITE: NY ARCHITECTURE
Evidence of Stanford White’s Beaux Arts architecture is everywhere, including the Washington Square Arch and the original Madison Square Garden. As partner of McKim, Mead & White, he left a Gilded Age legacy on the streets of New York City.
MARC CHAGALL & HIS MANY LOVES
Jewish artist Marc Chagall had many loves, especially his lovely wife (and muse) Bella. He incorporated his love of Judaism, village life and family into his art. Decipher his signature symbols and see how Chagall always put love and joy into his work, even while experiencing the cruelty of war.
ARTFUL CRASH COURSE: GUSTAVE KLIMT
A subject of immersive exhibitions worldwide, Klimt defined the Vienna Secession movement. Most famous for his "Woman in Gold" portrait and "The Kiss", his works are a mesmerizing combination of gold leaf, exotic line and vibrant jeweled toned colors. His life story is equally dazzling.
PETER MAX: HE'S GROOVY!
Peter Max eptimozes the psychedelic era with his pop colors and counter culture artistic vibe. However, there are many surprises...for example, did you know that he was born in Berlin, grew up in Shanghai, studied astronomy in Haifa and called Brooklyn home?
YAYOI KUSAMA: IT'S KUSAMA-MANIA
Dots...Pumpkins...and more Dots. Kusama, now in her 90s, is still going strong. This Japanese contemporary artist is best known for her paintings and sculptures of the Pop Art movement and have continued on to her current collaboration with Louis Vuitton. Learn why is she dot-obsessed!
WARHOL: JEWISH GENIUS CONTROVERSY
Andy Warhol, a Byzantine Catholic, created a portrait series in the 1980a. In his usual pop style, Warhol showcased a variety of Jewish icons, from Gold Meir to Groucho Marx. The question is…Did Warhol really honor these Jews or simply try to profit from them?
ARTFUL DESTINATIONS
NYC ART GALLERY SCENE: TOP PICKS
Always with an artful finger on the pulse of the NYC art gallery scene, Artful Buzz creates in-person and virtual itineraries to present the best of the best art currently on view in Chelsea, Madison Avenue, SoHo. Lower East Side and beyond. Debbie Wells has been on the gallery scene for years and is ready to give an insider's perspective through her connections with art gallery professionals, art dealers, artists and more.
NY ART MUSEUM EXHIBITS COUNTDOWN
As one of the art capitals of the world, NYC has it all! Let Artful Buzz do all the work and create a list of the most exciting museum exhibitions in the city. You will be surprised on the variety of artful experiences just waiting to be explored. Let Artful Buzz be your virtual guide to MoMA, Whitney, Morgan Library, Poster House, Brooklyn Museum, New-York Historical Society, Jewish Museum and more.
BEST MUSEUM SHOWS AROUND THE WORLD
Every season, there are hugely popular art exhibitions at major museums throughout the world, as well as the lesser-known artful gems. Sit back and take an armchair tour, as Artful Buzz reports on the top museum exhibitions currently on view. Adventure off to Paris, London, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, etc. - all in one inspirational session.
POSTER HOUSE: ALPHONSE MUCHA
When Poster House first opened their doors in Chelsea in 2019, it became the first museum in the USA dedicated exclusively to poster art. The premier exhibit was a retrospective on the Alphonse Mucha. His Art Nouveau designs and posters, notably of famed actress Sarah Bernhardt, were presented in a dazzling display. Poster House continues to host impressive poster exhibitions with provocative themes making it a new NYC artful experience.
CENTRAL PARK: SCULPTURE STROLL
Designed by Olmsted & Vaux, NYC's Central Park has countless sculptures artistically placed among its scenic landscape. Learn the stories behind the the popular and lesser known statuary celebrating Hans Christian Anderson, Shakespeare, Susan B. Anthony, Beethoven, Balto, Mother Goose, Duke Ellington, as well as the magical Delacorte musical clock, Angel of the Waters at the Bethesda Terrace and more.
BARNES FOUNDATION: THE INSIDE STORY
After a controversial renovation, the Barnes Foundation in Phildadelphia now displays the legendary collection of Dr. Albert Barnes. Barnes created his own interpretation of how his art was to be displayed – and he did it in a way that contradicted all museums of his time. Learn the story behind this unusual art collector. The quality and quantity of art is unmatched with his impressive collection of works by Matisse, Renoir, Glackens, Modigliani, Picasso and more.
FRICK COLLECTION / FRICK MADISON
Founded by Henry Clay Frick, this Fifth Avenue private residence/museum with masterpieces from Rembrandt to Renoir was arranged in an original setting merging art with fine furnishings. During a recent renovation, all contents were moved to a temporary location at the former Met Breuer on Madison Avenue. The curators made a huge statement when by displaying the art in a radically different way and brought new meaning to art appreciation.
ARTFUL JEWELS OF THE HAMPTONS
Have an adventure on the east end of Long Island and discover two artful sites: Pollock-Krasner House and Leiber Collection. PK House is the rustic home and barn studio of action painter Jackson Pollock and his artist-wife, Lee Krasner. Then it's off to the Leiber Collection, a museum lovingly built by iconic handbag designer Judith Leiber and her painter-husband. See a beautiful display of her jeweled purses, his art, and learn of their romantic love story.
MORE ARTFUL THEMES
ARTIST COUPLES
Let Artful Buzz bring artist duos to life! Learn about creative spouses like Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera to more unconventional couples like Gilbert & George, J-M Basquiat and Andy Warhol, and twin brothers Osgemeos. Get answers to questions like: Do they influence each other's style? Do money or fame drive them? Does one serve as muse to the other? Do they emotionally support each other or are in competition?
ARTISTS & DESIGNERS WITH JEWISH ROOTS
Choosing Jewish creative icons is the goal of this lecture. Learn about Stan Lee, creator of Marvel Comics, Milton Glaser (designer of the I Love NY logo), handbag designer Judith Leiber, fashion designer Ralph Lauren and artists Al Hirschfeld and Peter Max. Each one of them has a fascinating personal story from growing up as Jewish in Shanghai to Budapest to the Bronx!
AMERICAN WOMEN ARTISTS
Along with Jacqueline Covey, Debbie Wells compiled a comprehensive list of American Women artists. They present famous artists, like Helen Frankenthaler and Amy Sherald, and then bring attention to many who are not in the forefront like Clara Driscoll, the designer behind the Tiffany Lamp, and Beatrice Wood, the Mama of Dada (and the inspiration behind the character of Rose from "Titantic").
AUTHOR TALKS WITH AN ARTFUL TWIST
Talk with "The Thread Collectors" authors, Alyson Richman (center) and Shaunna J. Edwards. The Civil War novel portrays two women who aid their Union solider husbands through embroidery. Wells adds an artful dimension to the theme with a presentation on how contemporary fiber artists communicate messages through their art. Another lecture covers Richman's bestseller, "The Lost Wife" and the connection between art and love during wartime.
APPRECIATING ART APPROPRIATION
Using the Mona Lisa as just one example, learn how art appropriation works and why it is an acceptable (and often enriching) way of taking an original idea and putting a new spin on it. Although there are sometimes ethical or copyright issues, recycling art can be a thought-provoking way of introducing new artists and new ideas. This lecture is a special treat for art history lovers!
ASHCAN ART & TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FACTORY FIRE OF 1911
Experience the Lower East Side at the turn of the century though the eyes of the Aschan School. This group of painters depicted immigrant life on the gritty, bustling streets as a reflection of modern life at the time. Taking this theme to another level, let Debbie Wells tell the story of her real-life family ancestor, Annie Nicholas, who was a seamstress at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory and a victim of the fire. This historical event sparked important change in America, including the formation of organized labor unions. See how art and this personal story collide in this fascinating and original presentation.