Why Modern Art Matters
So yesterday I came across a little video Prager University made about modern art, namely why it’s so “bad.” Featuring artist Robert Florczak, the video states that modern art is merely a “competition between the ugly and the twisted” where the “most shocking” artwork wins. While I agree with some of Florczak’s points, I personally […]
London’s V&A Debuts Radioactive Vases
On April 25, London’s Victoria and Albert museum is debuting something you never knew you needed to see—vases made out of radioactive sludge. Featured in the V&A’s exhibition What is Luxury, the ceramic vases were envisioned and created by The Unknown Fields Division, a collective whose website describes them as a sort of “nomadic design […]
Henry VIII Gets Fancy on #fancyfriday
This Friday, we’re taking a moment to honor this portrait of Henry VIII from the workshop of Hans Holbein for this week’s #fancyfriday title! You’ve probably seen this painting of Henry VIII before. It’s generally the most famous portrait of the infamous monarch, and is usually the one that pops up in history textbooks. That’s because […]
Slow it Down at Slow Art Day!
Have you ever had that bizarre urge to finish a museum? You know what I mean. That feeling when you’re halfway through a museum or gallery. You’ve been pacing yourself up until now, but there’s that inexplicable need to finish. To be done. Sure, you want to say that you’ve seen everything in the National […]
Fabergé Eggs- A Special #fancyfriday
In honor of spring, we’ve decided to give this week’s #fancyfriday title to Peter Carl Fabergé! Generally, the #fancyfriday champion of any given week is recognized for their achievements in portraiture. But due to the fact that it’s now spring and the Easter holidays are in full swing, this Friday’s winner is a bit different. […]
Judith Leyster’s “Self-Portrait” for #fancyfriday
After much deliberation, the results are in: today’s #fancyfriday piece is Judith Leyster’s Self-Portrait! Judith Leyster was an artist working in the Low Countries in the mid-1600s. She specialized in scenes of everyday life, also known as genre scenes. Painted around 1635, Leyster’s self-portrait gives us a lot of information about women in the arts […]
What’s that Mystery Painting in “The Little Mermaid”
Disney almost certainly has a crack team of artists working for them. And I’m pretty sure after re-watching The Little Mermaid that whoever’s in charge of artwork over there had a pretty extensive education in art history as well. And this viewing is what led to my quest to unearth just how much Disney relies […]
Rigaud’s “Louis XIV” for #fancyfriday
Our next #fancyfriday contender is Hyacinthe Riguad’s portrait of Louis XIV. Louis XIV (that’s Louis the fourteenth for those of you who get as mixed up with Roman numerals as I do) reigned as king of France from 1643 to 1715. That’s 72 years, the longest of any monarch in European history to date (though […]
Why You Should See “Woman in Gold”
Looking for a movie to watch over spring break that doesn’t include clichéd car races or unnecessary explosions? Look no further! Woman in Gold, a film directed by Simon Curtis and starring Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, and Daniel Brühl, makes its debut on April 3. Woman in Gold is a film centered around the ownership dispute […]
Albrecht Dürer’s Self-Portrait is #fancy
Welcome to fancy Friday! Forget casual Fridays—fancy Fridays are where it’s at. Fridays are for celebrating. So why not look your best for the weekend? Here at ADP we believe the same thing. And in honor of fancy Fridays, we’re bringing you some of the best work from the artists who really understood the concept […]