Andrea Kirsh

November 16, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

The holidays are nearly here, and so is Part 1 of Andrea Kirsh’s annual round up of the best in art books, including an art book tour of historical artist homes and studios (including some local ones), a contemporary painting book for art loves of all kinds, and an enlightening look at 20th century art!

November 11, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

Powerful and overlooked, “Emma Amos: Color Odyssey” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art reveals an innovative and feisty woman artist

“Emma Amos: Color Odyssey” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a revelation for those who want to know the art of Emma Amos, who came up during Abstract Expressionism’s heyday and fought against abstraction in works that are complex, inventive and in several cases, stunning.

November 2, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

Sophisticated, exquisitely executed, and provocative, Linda Bond at Leonard Pearlstein Gallery

Linda Bond uses text and imagery to capture her decades-long obsessive and close readings of the US government’s pursuit of war. Andrea Kirsh calls Bond’s multi-media pieces, focused on the resulting impact on humans from the organized weapons of destruction, compelling. The show is on view until Feb. 20, 2022, at Drexel University’s Leonard Pearlstein Gallery.

October 21, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

An opera drops in with a pointed message about climate change, “Sun & Sea” presented by Exhibitions at Arcadia University at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival

August 23, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

The under known history of Alma Thomas, in print and on view

Andrea Kirsh reviews “Alma Thomas; Everything is Beautiful,” a catalog for the exhibition of the same name. Andrea says both the catalog and exhibition tell the under known history of Alma Thomas’s life as an artist, educator, role model and inspiration to many. The traveling exhibition runs until Sept. 25, 2022; currently on view at Chrysler Museum of Art through Oct. 3, 2021. The catalog is available at the Museum or through Yale University Press.

August 4, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

Celebrating the vast career of Raphael Montañez Ortiz, El Museo del Barrio founder

Andrea Kirsh reviews the first monograph on career of Raphael Montañez Ortiz- artist, educator, and founder of El Museo del Barrio in New York City. Andrea says that before this book was published, art historians failed to document Montañez Ortiz’s diverse, inquisitive, and dynamic career.

July 30, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

New book “The Soul of a Nation Reader” fills racial gaps in art history

The new book, “The Soul of a Nation Reader” rounds up long-inaccessible material on Black American art and artists from 1960-1980. The authors who collected this material have done a valuable service to the field of art history, our contributor Andrea Kirsh says.

June 1, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

Senga Nengudi’s ‘Topologies’ at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Part 2

Andrea Kirsh follows up with Part 2 of her review of ‘Senga Nengudi: Topologies,’ which is currently on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art through July 25, 2021. Andrea believes the show is a rare museum exhibition that appeals to people of all ages and interests. If you missed Part 1, you can find it in the Artblog post!

May 12, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

Trailblazing Black avant-garde artist Senga Nengudi’s ‘Topologies’ illuminates PMA, Part 1

Artblog contributor Andrea Kirsh sings great praise for the new ‘Senga Nengudi: Topologies’ exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (on view through July 25, 2021)! Andrea says the exhibition is outstanding in its approachability and Art Historical significance.

April 13, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

South Asian abstraction reverberates with meaning in ‘Fault Lines’ at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Andrea Kirsh says slow down when viewing “Fault Lines” at the PMA, to catch the many real world references in this excellent show of abstract art by six South Asian women.

February 4, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

New navigation guide at the Philadelphia Museum of Art highlights works by black artists in the collection

Artblog contributor Andrea Kirsh visits the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and follows their “Works by Black Artists” guide which is now available alongside museum maps. Andrea’s Art History-informed observations are vivid and insightful.

January 2, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

Two great art books for the New Year focus on under-known artists, Lorraine O’Grady and Gladys Nilsson

Andrea Kirsh, Artblog’s art book aficionado, reviews two great books for reading and looking: Lorraine O’Grady’s “Writing in Space 1973- 2019” and “Gladys Nilsson Honk!; Fifty Years of Painting” published by Matthew Marks Gallery and Garth Greenan Gallery. This is a great place to start your 2021 New Year’s Resolution to read more. Happy New Year!

December 2, 2020 by Andrea Kirsh

Books for holiday giving, Part 1

Andrea Kirsh reviews and recommends three outstanding artbooks to buy for yourself or a loved one this holiday season– they spotlight the legend Angela Davis, Pennsylvania artist Thaddeus Mosley, and Gond artists from India!

August 18, 2020 by Andrea Kirsh

Two art books for our era of racial reckoning

Andrea Kirsh reviews Maya Stovall’s “Liquor Store Theatre” and Rotland Press Original, “The N-Word; Paintings by Peter Williams,” art books that examine racism and systemic inequality in Detroit and beyond.