The Buddhist monks of Tibet who are known for their tradition of sand mandalas destroy the work after completing it. The word mandala comes from Sanskrit meaning “circle” but a mandala is not your average two-dimensional shape consisting of an outer boundary called the circumference made up of points all equidistant from a fixed center point. A mandala representation of the universe. While many people talk about Mandalas in reference to radial symmetry, mandala designs have spiritual significance beyond mere repetition. The act of creating a sand mandala is meditative. It requires monks to focus, to be calm, still and deliberate in their actions. And then, after completing the construction, they move on to a ritual deconstructing the piece. Even the deconstruction is a part of the artistic process with spiritual significance. Destroying the sand art is a reminder of the transitory nature of the universe.

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Hans Holbein the Younger painted The Ambassadors in 1533. It is a massive, life sized double portrait filled with symbolism that gives us insights into the political and religious upheaval of the day. Still today, it is probably best known for the anamorphic skull cutting across the floor in the composition. In the Ambassadors, Holbein presents the symbol of mortality as a specter that looms ever present though sometimes difficult to make sense of. It can feel like an odd intrusion disrupting a picture carefully and beautifully constructed but if we shift our view a little we can see that nothing lasts forever. Life and the world are constantly changing but there can be a beauty in that too if we can bring ourselves to look at it from the right perspective. 

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My guest for this episode is Karli Wurzelbacher, curator for The Heckscher Museum of Art. She shared her insights into Emma Stebbins, a great neoclassical sculptor from the 19th century. Around the age of 40, Stebbins left America for Europe, where she studied the classic works found around Italy and rose to prominence as a sculptor. Her work was highly prized during her lifetime, but sadly, after she passed away, her work and neoclassical art more broadly fell out of favor. She was long overlooked by history despite high-profile work, including the Bethesda Fountain in New York's Central Park.

The Hecksher Museum of Art is hosting the exhibition, Emma Stebbins: Carving Out History. The show is open now through March 26, 2026. For more information, head over to the Heckscher Musuem of Art's website.

If you cannot make it out to see the exhibition in person, you can purchase the book https://www.heckscher.org/stebbinscatalog/

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Degas is famous for his beautiful depictions of ballet dancers, but he was also giving a glimpse into the tough reality those dancers experienced.

Edgar Degas, born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas in 1834, grew up in a wealthy Parisian family with strong ties to the arts. In 1855, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts, where he trained under Louis Lamothe, a follower of the neoclassical artist Ingres. During this period, Degas focused on traditional subjects, such as historical scenes and portraits and he was fairly successful at it. Degas would be one of the few Impressionists accepted by the Paris Salon although not for the ballet dancers and the style of work we associate with him today.

Degas was deeply interested in depicting movement and the human figure in action. Ballet dancers, with their graceful poses and dynamic movements, provided him with a perfect subject to explore these artistic challenges. These works provided Degas with opportunities to experiment with perspective, composition, and lighting. He used unusual angles and cropping to create dynamic and unexpected compositions, often emphasizing the patterns of light and shadow on the dancers' bodies and costumes. Ultimately, I think these works have stood the test of time because we can look at them through different lenses and still find something to appreciate. Whether social commentary, a peek behind the curtain and glimpse into another person’s lived experiences or simply an aesthetic experience reveling in the lights, the colors, the texture and flow of the costumes and the graceful movements of the dancers, there is something beautiful in the work.

Related episodes:

⁠Claude Monet⁠

⁠Pierre-Auguste Renoir

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This week I have part two of my interview with Laurie Roberts. Last week, she shared insights into Larry Roberts, her late husband. He made beautiful abstract paintings known for their rich colors. Laurie has given his paintings some new life as she translates some of those paintings into textiles. It was amazing to learn about her design process and how she and her team translate these complex designs with layered colors and organic shapes into rugs, pillows and wall coverings.

You can find Laurie's work at LarryRobertsChicago.com

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Giovanni Battista Lombardi (1822-1877) was a prominent Italian sculptor of the 19th century, originally from Rezzato, near Brescia. After moving to Rome, he studied under the leading neoclassical sculptor Pietro Tenerani, which grounded his style in classical ideals of beauty and harmony.

Lombardi's work is celebrated for its blend of the cool perfection of Neoclassicism with the growing trend toward the emotional depth of Realism. He became highly sought after for two specialties: moving funerary monuments and idealized female figures. A significant portion of his career was dedicated to creating sculptures for the Campo Santo Vantiniano, a monumental cemetery in Brescia, where his work was praised for its quiet, human emotion.

Internationally, Lombardi is best known for his masterful sculptures of veiled women. This subject was a popular test of a sculptor's skill in the 19th century, requiring them to create a trompe-l'œil (deceive the eye) illusion of transparent fabric from a single block of hard marble. This technical brilliance was not just an artistic feat; during the Risorgimento (the unification of Italy), such works were a powerful symbol of renewed Italian cultural pride and artistic genius. Lombardi created several variations of the veiled woman, each unique in its expression and composition.

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Larry Roberts was a Chicago-based artist best known for his abstract paintings with rich colors and textures. I was able to interview Laurie Roberts, his wife, about how he created his work and how she is carrying on his legacy. This will be a two part interview. This week I have Laurie sharing about Larry's life and his work. In next week's episode, Laurie will share her experience in the design field and how she is translating Larry's work into different media.

Check out larryrobertschicago.com to see Larry's work and Laurie's designs based on his paintings.

Related episodes:

Leonardo da Vinci | The Mona Lisa

Salvador Dali | The Persistence of Memory

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Bridget Riley, born in London in 1931, is a prominent figure in the Op Art movement. Early life experiences, including wartime evacuation to Cornwall and exposure to nature's patterns, influenced her artistic sensibilities. Her style evolved with influences from Seurat, Pollock, and Balla. Riley's breakthrough came in the 1960s with black and white geometric paintings like "Fall" and "Current," which created illusions of movement and depth. Her work gained international recognition through exhibitions like "The Responsive Eye" at MoMA. Riley's exploration of color and form continues to challenge viewers' perceptions and solidify her place in art history. A key work, "Movement in Squares" (1961), exemplifies her innovative use of simple elements to produce dynamic optical effects, marking a pivotal moment in Op Art and influencing various fields beyond fine art.

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Tyler Loftis is a contemporary artist based out of New York. Loftis developed a practice rooted that respects traditional practices like drawing and painting from observation, but also celebrating and embracing art as a dialogue with the audience's perceptions having equal weight to the artist's intention. Believing that "artists are course correctors," he is committed to democratizing the art world by removing elitism and fostering human connection. This mission has driven him to found institutions like The Fire Barn Gallery and the platform AllArtWorks, as well as philanthropic initiatives like Portraits for Purpose, all aimed at supporting artists and creating greater access to fine art outside of traditional systems.

Find Tyler Loftis online:

Official Website

All Art Works Foundation

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Jeff Koons, born in 1955, displayed an early interest in art. As a teenager, he called Salvador Dali's hotel and arranged to meet the artist. He was inspired by Dali and went on to study art in college. Koons supported himself with various jobs, including working at the ⁠Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago⁠, working the information desk at ⁠MoMA⁠ and as a commodities broker in New York. He gained recognition in the 1980s with his "The New" and "Equilibrium" series, and achieved international fame with his "Banality" series, which challenged notions of art and taste. Koons's work often explores themes of consumer culture, mass production, and the relationship between art and commerce. He is known for his meticulous approach, often employing skilled artisans to create his sculptures. Koons's "Pink Panther" (1988) exemplifies his exploration of popular culture and kitsch, challenging traditional notions of art and value.

Related episodes:

⁠Salvador Dali | The Persistence of Memory⁠

⁠Andy Warhol⁠

⁠Roy Lichtenstein | Look Mickey⁠

⁠AP Art History Cram Session⁠ playlist on Spotify

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