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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260521T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260521T170000
DTSTAMP:20260505T220151Z
CREATED:20260505T220151Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T220151Z
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SUMMARY:Through the Lens: Graciela Iturbide
DESCRIPTION:Thursday\, May 21\n4:00 p.m\nSpeaker: Michael Brown\, PhD\, Senior Curator of European Art\, The San Diego Museum of Art\nMOPA@SDMA \n  \nJoin the Latin American Arts Council (LAAC) for a stimulating\, curator-led exploration of the work of Graciela Iturbide\, one of the most influential photographers of her generation. \nGuided by Dr. Michael Brown\, this special walkthrough of Graciela Iturbide: Photographs from Fundación Mapfre offers a deeper look at Iturbide’s evocative imagery and her exploration of identity\, culture\, and ritual across Mexico and beyond. \nBorn in Mexico City in 1942\, Iturbide studied under renowned photographer Manuel Álvarez Bravo and developed a distinctive visual language rooted in documentary tradition yet rich with symbolism. Her work often centers on indigenous communities\, everyday life\, and the poetic interplay between humans and their environments. She has received numerous international honors\, including the Hasselblad Award. \nThis experience offers a rare opportunity to engage more closely with the exhibition through curatorial insight and conversation. \n  \nFree to Museum and LAAC members | $15 nonmembers \nSave My Spot \n  \nSponsored by the Latin American Arts Council. \n  \nFeatured: Graciela Iturbide\, Nuestra Señora de las Iguanas\, Juchitán\, Oaxaca\, México (Our Lady of the Iguanas\, Juchitán\, Oaxaca\, Mexico) (detail)\, 1979. Gelatin silver print. Colecciones Fundación Mapfre. © Graciela Iturbide
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/through-the-lens-graciela-iturbide/
LOCATION:Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art\, 1649 El Prado\, San Diego\, CA\, 92101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions,Lecture,Support Council
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260528T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260528T150000
DTSTAMP:20260506T211803Z
CREATED:20260506T211558Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260506T211803Z
UID:738960-1779973200-1779980400@www.sdmart.org
SUMMARY:Gateway to Himalayan Art
DESCRIPTION:Thursday\, May 28\n1:00–3:00 p.m. PT\nSpeaker: Elena Pakhoutova\, PhD\, Senior Curator\, Himalayan Art\, the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art\nVirtual Event \n  \nHimalayan art spans the artistic traditions of the diverse regions and cultural spheres of the greater Himalayan mountain range\, the Tibetan Plateau\, and connected areas of Northern India\, the western Himalayas\, Nepal\, Bhutan\, Mongolia\, Buddhist central Asia\, and culturally related areas of China. This expansive geographic definition of Himalayan art emphasizes cultural connectivity and exchange between these regions. The presentation will introduce fundamental forms\, symbolic meanings\, methods of artistic production\, and the living practices of Tibetan and Himalayan Art. The speaker will also talk about the newly developed digital resources and the traveling exhibition by the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art intended to introduce Tibetan and Himalayan art to higher education faculty and students as well as the general public. \n\nSpeaker Bio: Elena Pakhoutova is Senior Curator\, Himalayan art\, at the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art. Pakhoutova holds a PhD in Asian art history and criticism from the University of Virginia and has taught at the University of Virginia and the New School\, New York. Her background in Tibetan Buddhist studies informs her interdisciplinary interests\, including Buddhist art and ritual\, art production and patronage\, material culture\, narrative in Tibetan visual culture\, and contemporary Himalayan art. At the Rubin Museum\, her thematic exhibitions have introduced and contextualized Tibetan and Himalayan art and include Death Is Not the End (2023)\, Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment (2021)\, The Power of Intention: Reinventing the (Prayer) Wheel (2019)\, The Second Buddha: Master of Time (2018)\, Count Your Blessings: The Art of Prayer Beads in Asia (2013)\, Once Upon Many Times: Legends and Myths in Himalayan Art (2011)\, Gateway to Himalayan Art (2010–2024)\, and Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room (2012–2024). She co-curated Nepalese Seasons: Rain and Ritual (2016)\, The All-Knowing Buddha: A Secret Guide (2014)\, and Illuminated: The Art of Sacred Books (2012). She co-leads\, with Karl Debreczeny\, Project Himalayan Art. \n\n  \nPlease note\, this session will be conducted virtually via Zoom. \nSave your spot by clicking on this link. All participants will be sent the Zoom link via confirmation email with instructions once you secure your place. \nSave my spot!\nSponsored by the Asian Arts Council. \n  \nFeatured at top right: Chakrasamvara with Consort Vajravarahi\, Kham Region\, Eastern Tibet\, 19th century. Pigments on cloth. Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art. Gift of Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation\, F1997.7.2 (HAR 99).
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/gateway-to-himalayan-art/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Lecture,Support Council
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260709T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260709T200000
DTSTAMP:20260605T192059Z
CREATED:20260605T192059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T192059Z
UID:775930-1783616400-1783627200@www.sdmart.org
SUMMARY:Friends in Focus: Friends Lecture and Exhibition Opening of Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World
DESCRIPTION:Thursday\, July 9\nReception at 5:00 p.m.\nLecture at 6:00 p.m.\nMOPA@SDMA \nGain unique insights into the life and work of Cecil Beaton and his fashion photography that shaped a generation.\nFriend-level members and above are invited to a special Friends Lecture & Opening to celebrate Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World at MOPA@SDMA. \nGuest lecturer Robin Muir\, External Curator at the National Portrait Gallery in London\, will present on the fascinating life and work of Cecil Beaton and the lasting impact of his photographic career. \nGuests will enjoy a welcome reception with light refreshments plus a viewing of the exhibition followed by the lecture at 6:00 p.m.  \nFriend-level members and above may reserve two complimentary tickets using the link below. Space is limited. Not a Friend member? Join or upgrade today by calling 619.696.1941 to secure your seats for this event. \nGet Tickets \n  \nAbout the Exhibition \nPhotographer\, fashion illustrator\, Oscar-winning costumer designer\, social caricaturist\, and writer\, Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) was an extraordinary force in the 20th-century British and American creative scenes. With nearly 150 items displayed\, Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World showcases Beaton as his most triumphant – including photographs\, letters\, sketches\, fashion illustration\, and magazines. Via London\, Paris\, New York\, and Hollywood\, his era-defining photographs captured beauty\, glamour\, and star power in the interwar and early post-war eras. \nExhibition organized by The National Portrait Gallery\, London\, and presented by The San Diego Museum of Art. \nCecil Beaton’s Fashionable World is on view at MOPA@SDMA July 11\, 2026 – January 10\, 2027 \n  \nFeatured at top right: Cecil Beaton\, The Second Age of Beauty is Glamour\, Checked Suit by Norman Hartnell (detail)\, 1947. Modern print from original colour transparency. © Condé Nast Archive UK.
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/friends-in-focus-lecture-exhibition-opening-cecil-beatons-fashionable-world/
LOCATION:Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art\, 1649 El Prado\, San Diego\, CA\, 92101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture,Member Event
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260730T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260730T150000
DTSTAMP:20260625T002456Z
CREATED:20260625T002234Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260625T002456Z
UID:797179-1785416400-1785423600@www.sdmart.org
SUMMARY:Buddhist Sculpture Insights
DESCRIPTION:Thursday\, July 30\n1:00–3:00 p.m. PT\nSpeaker: Ginna Olsen and Heather Simmerman\, Asian art scholars and SDMA Docents\nVirtual Event \n  \n\nJoin the Asian Arts Council in exploring the history of two important Buddhist sculptures in the SDMA collection. Ginna Olsen will discuss the 6th century Chinese Bodhisattva stone sculpture and Heather Simmerman will present the 17th century Japanese Amida Buddha wood sculpture\, all currently on view in the SDMA Asian Gallery 7. They will contextualize the sculptures to position them within the history of Chinese and Japanese Buddhist art\, respectively. The religious\, political\, and social messages that were conveyed through their creation and iconography will also be explained. \n  \nSpeaker Bios: Ginna Olsen graduated from the University of Redlands with a B.A. in Art History\, then earned her M.A. in Art History with an emphasis on Asian Art at USC. She retired in 2019 from a career in business and has been a docent at SDMA since 2021. \nHeather Simmerman earned a B.A. in Biology from Northwestern University\, a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Indiana University\, and in 2025 received a Post Graduate Certificate in Asian Art from SOAS University of London.  She is currently studying for a Certificate of Achievement in Japanese at MiraCosta College. Heather has been a docent at SDMA since 2023. \n  \nPlease note\, this session will be conducted virtually via Zoom. \nSave your spot by clicking on this link. All participants will be sent the Zoom link via confirmation email with instructions once you secure your place. \nSave my spot!\nSponsored by the Asian Arts Council. \n  \nFeatured at top right: Amida Buddha (detail)\, 17th century\, Japan. 1957. Wood. Bequest of Mrs. Cora Timken Burnett\, 1957.446. \nFeatured: Standing Bodhisattva\, 550-577\, Shanxi Province\, China. Limestone. Bequest of Mrs. Cora Timken Burnett\, 1957.435.
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/buddhist-sculpture-insights/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Lecture,Support Council
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.sdmart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Amida-Buddha-17th-cent_1957.446_square.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260911T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260911T113000
DTSTAMP:20260922T235709Z
CREATED:20260821T182454Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T235709Z
UID:875579-1789120800-1789126200@www.sdmart.org
SUMMARY:In Conversation: The Remarkable Legacy of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (SOLD OUT)
DESCRIPTION:Friday\, September 11\n10:00 a.m.\nSpeakers: Fanny Girard\, Director of the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum\, and Michael Brown\, PhD\, Senior Curator of European Art\, The San Diego Museum of Art\nMOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater \n  \nSOLD OUT\nCelebrate the closing of SDMA’s acclaimed Cafés and Cabarets: The Spectacular Art of Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition through a conversation between two scholars who know the artist best. Fanny Girard\, Director of the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum in Albi\, France\, joins exhibition curator Michael Brown\, PhD\, Senior Curator of European Art\, to reflect on Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s remarkable legacy\, the international collaboration that made the exhibition possible\, and the artist’s lasting influence on modern art. Drawing from the perspectives of both institutions\, this engaging discussion offers audiences a deeper appreciation of the exhibition while highlighting the enduring relevance of one of France’s most celebrated artists. \n  \nFollowing the lecture\, guests are invited to enjoy a guided tour led by our docent team. \n  \nPlease note\, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. \n$15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers \nSOLD OUT\n  \nThis lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series\, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history\, art theory\, and the museum’s collections. \nSponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council. \n  \nFeatured at top right: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec\, Jane Avril (detail)\, 1899. Lithograph\, poster on paper. Gift of the Baldwin M. Baldwin Foundation\, 1987.103.
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/in-conversation-the-remarkable-legacy-of-toulouse-lautrec/
LOCATION:Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art\, 1649 El Prado\, San Diego\, CA\, 92101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Guest Lecture Series,Lecture
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.sdmart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Toulouse-Lautrec-Jane-Avril-1899_SDMA-1987-103_web-resize_square.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260924T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260924T150000
DTSTAMP:20260921T174429Z
CREATED:20260916T185303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260921T174429Z
UID:902534-1790254800-1790262000@www.sdmart.org
SUMMARY:The Fine Art of Japanese Clay
DESCRIPTION:Thursday\, September 24\n1:00–3:00 p.m. PT\nSpeaker: Hollis Goodall\, Japanese art curator\, writer\, and lecturer\nVirtual Event \n  \nThis lecture will examine the paths to contemporaneity in Japanese ceramics by looking at works in the current exhibition\, Tōgei: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics\, which runs at the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona\, California\, until May 2027. The lecture considers the ergonomics of utilitarian wares\, the development of sculptural clay\, and the various approaches to modernity that have brought us to the present. \n  \nSpeaker Bio: Hollis Goodall retired in 2023 as Curator of Japanese Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art\, where she worked for 42 years and curated 276 exhibitions and installations. Her exhibition on contemporary Kyoto ceramics is currently installed at LACMA. Prior to curating Tōgei: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics\, which is open until May 30\, 2027\, at the American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA) in Pomona\, Goodall curated Rising Sun/Falling Rain: Japanese Woodblock Prints from the Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts at the Hammer Museum for the autumn of 2025. Her recent publications on Japanese Ceramics include Mingei and Contemporary Concepts of Beauty for Dai Ichi Arts\, New York\, January 2025; “A Brittle Bounty: Ceramic Works by Mishima Kimiyo” for the exhibition and catalogue Radical Clay: Contemporary Women Artists from Japan\, which debuted in 2023 at the Art Institute of Chicago\, and “Radiating Beauty: Sculpture by Shozo Michikawa” for the catalogue Shozo Michikawa\, produced by Hostler Burrows Gallery in Los Angeles in 2022. \n  \nPlease note\, this session will be conducted virtually via Zoom. \nSave your spot by clicking on this link. All participants will be sent the Zoom link via confirmation email with instructions once you secure your place. \nSave my spot!\nSponsored by the Asian Arts Council. \n  \nFeatured at top right: Higashida Shigemasa\, Large Platter\, ca. 2014. Stoneware with Oribe glaze. Raulee Marcus Collection. Photo by Pam Aliaga\, American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA).
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/fine-art-of-japanese-clay/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Lecture,Support Council
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.sdmart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AAC-Japanese-Clay_Higa_Shige_4_H_web-resize.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261016T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261016T113000
DTSTAMP:20260922T235857Z
CREATED:20260827T191807Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T235857Z
UID:875891-1792144800-1792150200@www.sdmart.org
SUMMARY:Meteorites as Artistic Matter: Artist Ulrike Arnold in Conversation with Astronomer Gerard van Belle PhD\, and Curator Rachel Jans PhD
DESCRIPTION:Friday\, October 16\n10:00 a.m.\nSpeakers: Ulrike Arnold\, Artist; Gerard van Belle\, PhD\, Director of the Las Cumbres Observatory; and Rachel Jans\, PhD\, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at The San Diego Museum of Art\nMOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater \n  \nMeteorites as Artistic Matter brings together internationally acclaimed artist Ulrike Arnold\, astronomer Gerard van Belle\, PhD\, and the Museum’s Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Rachel Jans\, PhD\, for a fascinating interdisciplinary conversation exploring the intersection of art\, science\, and the cosmos. Known for incorporating meteorite dust and pigments gathered from some of the world’s most remote landscapes into her paintings\, Arnold will discuss how celestial and earthly materials become powerful artistic media. Joined by van Belle’s astronomical perspective\, including award-winning science endeavors that have been pioneering in the fields of stellar surface imaging and characterization of exoplanet host stars\, and Jans’s expertise on the work of Sigmar Polke\, a German artist also known for incorporating unconventional materials into his work\, and contemporary artistic practice\, this engaging guest lecture offers a rare opportunity to discover how meteorites inspire creativity\, expand our understanding of materiality\, and connect artistic expression with the vast universe beyond our planet. \nFollowing the lecture\, guests are invited to enjoy a guided tour led by our docent team. \n  \nPlease note\, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. \n$15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers \nGet Tickets \n  \nThis lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series\, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history\, art theory\, and the museum’s collections. \nSponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council. \n  \nFeatured at top right: Ulrike Arnold\, Flagstaff\, Arizona\, San Francisco Volcanic Field (detail)\, January 2024. Earth and meteorites. Courtesy of the artist.
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/meteorites-as-artistic-matter/
LOCATION:Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art\, 1649 El Prado\, San Diego\, CA\, 92101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Guest Lecture Series,Lecture
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.sdmart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/11-26-Ulrike-Arnold-Flagstaff-Arizona-San-Francisco-Volcanic-Field_web-resize.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261029T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261029T150000
DTSTAMP:20260917T161945Z
CREATED:20260826T194609Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260917T161945Z
UID:880786-1793278800-1793286000@www.sdmart.org
SUMMARY:Painted Prayers: The Japanese Folk Art Tradition of Ema
DESCRIPTION:Thursday\, October 29\n1:00–3:00 p.m. PT\nSpeaker: Meher McArthur\, Asian art historian and curator\nVirtual Event \n  \n\nMeher McArthur will offer insights into the new exhibition Painted Prayers: The Japanese Folk Art Tradition of Ema\, on view at Mingei International Museum (October 17 2026 through April 4\, 2027). Ema are painted (now mostly printed) votive plaques that have been purchased at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples for centuries and hung outside as prayers to the gods. They depict deities\, symbols\, animals\, plants\, and objects that signify wishes as general as health\, good fortune\, and love to prayers for a cure for warts\, blindness\, and STDs. Some of the wittiest examples represent prayers for increased breastmilk\, recovery from addiction\, and an end to toxic relationships. Meher will share her exploration of this folk painting tradition and its place in Japan today. \n  \nSpeaker Bio: Meher McArthur is an Asian art historian specializing in Japanese art and has worked at Pacific Asia Museum\, the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden\, Scripps College\, Claremont and JAPAN HOUSE LA. She curates local and traveling exhibitions\, such as Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper (2021-2024)\, Sound of Water at Descanso Gardens and KIMONO: Garment\, Canvas\, and Artistic Muse\, now in Louisiana. Her publications include Gods and Goblins: Folk Paintings from Otsu (PAM\, 1999)\, Reading Buddhist Art (Thames & Hudson\, 2002) and The Arts of Asia (Thames & Hudson\, 2005)\, An ABC of What Art Can Be (Getty Museum\, 2010)\, New Expressions in Origami Art (Tuttle\, 2017)\, and her memoir A Japanese Art Journey (Tuttle\, 2025). \n  \nPlease note\, this session will be conducted virtually via Zoom. \nSave your spot by clicking on this link. All participants will be sent the Zoom link via confirmation email with instructions once you secure your place. \nSave my spot!\nSponsored by the Asian Arts Council. \n  \nFeatured at top right: Unidentified Maker\, Ema of a White Horse\, a Prayer for Good Fortune in the Year of the Horse (detail)\, Bunka 7 (1810)\, Japan. Pigment on wood. Mingei International Museum\, Museum Purchase\, 2015-118-108. \nFeatured: Ema Hanging on a Stand at Shiroyama Kumano Shrine\, Tokyo. Photograph by Meher McArthur.
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/painted-prayers-the-japanese-folk-art-tradition-of-ema/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Lecture,Support Council
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.sdmart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/26-09-HorseEma-from-Meher_web-resize-e1787695816423.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261030T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261030T193000
DTSTAMP:20260827T215500Z
CREATED:20260827T192727Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260827T215500Z
UID:883195-1793383200-1793388600@www.sdmart.org
SUMMARY:Artistic Practice: Roxana Velázquez in Conversation with Artist Betsabeé Romero
DESCRIPTION:Friday\, October 30\n6:00 p.m.\nSpeakers: Roxana Velázquez\, Maruja Baldwin Executive Director and CEO at The San Diego Museum of Art\, and Betsabeé Romero\, Artist\nMOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater \n  \nPresented in conjunction with the Museum’s Día de los Muertos celebration\, this special conversation introduces internationally acclaimed Mexican artist Betsabeé Romero. In dialogue with SDMA Executive Director and CEO Roxana Velázquez\, Romero will discuss her artistic practice\, the themes of memory\, migration\, identity\, and cultural heritage that define her work\, and the inspiration behind her site-specific project for the Museum. This conversation offers audiences an opportunity to meet the artist behind one of the season’s most anticipated installations and to discover how contemporary art can bridge tradition and innovation. \nFollowing the lecture\, guests are invited to enjoy a guided tour led by our docent team. \n  \nPlease note\, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. \n$15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers \nGet Tickets \n  \nThis lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series\, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history\, art theory\, and the museum’s collections. \nSponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council. \n  \nFeatured at top right: Photo of Betsabeé Romero at Green Carpet: The 12th Player event on August 8\, 2026\, at The San Diego Museum of Art.
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/artistic-practice-roxana-velazquez-in-conversation-with-artist-betsabee-romero/
LOCATION:Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art\, 1649 El Prado\, San Diego\, CA\, 92101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Artist Talk,Guest Lecture Series,Lecture
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.sdmart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/10-26-Betsabee-Romero_0808269X-00186_web-resize.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261119T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261119T120000
DTSTAMP:20260921T193528Z
CREATED:20260921T181817Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260921T193528Z
UID:908884-1795082400-1795089600@www.sdmart.org
SUMMARY:Malice in Wonderland: Cecil Beaton’s Life and Work
DESCRIPTION:Thursday\, November 19\n10:00 a.m.\nSpeaker: Hugo Vickers\, Author and Historian\nMOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater \n  \nCecil Beaton (1904-1980) was a total self-creation. Through photography he rose to become one of the great observers of the twentieth century. His portraits of the British Royal Family and of stars of both the stage and screen are legendary. He became a designer of costumes and sets for stage\, screen\, opera\, and ballet; an artist; a wicked diarist; an arbiter of taste; and a man who moved easily in many varied worlds. He portrayed the great figures of the age in dazzling photographs as well as in drawings. \nIn this talk\, Hugo Vickers\, the biographer and literary executor for Cecil Beaton\, explains how Beaton turned himself into this extraordinary figure. Guests will meet the world of the Bright Young Things\, Hollywood\, the British Royal Family\, World War II\, Gigi\, My Fair Lady\, and the Peacock Revolution of the 1960s. \nHugo Vickers is well known as a biographer\, lecturer\, and broadcaster. He is also an acknowledged expert on the British Royal Family. Vickers has also published his own diaries about researching Cecil Beaton\, entitled Malice in Wonderland: My Adventures in the World of Cecil Beaton (2021). \nFollowing the lecture\, guests are invited to enjoy a guided tour led by our docent team. This special Guest Lecture complements Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World\, on view at the Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA) through January 10\, 2027. \nPlease note\, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. \n  \n$15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers \nGet Tickets \n  \nThe Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World exhibition and this lecture are generously sponsored by The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation. \n\n  \nThis lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series\, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history\, art theory\, and the museum’s collections. \nSponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council \n  \nFeatured at top right: Cecil Beaton\, Cecil Beaton in Hollywood (detail)\, 1930s. Gelatin silver print. The National Portrait Gallery\, London. © National Portrait Gallery\, London.
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/malice-in-wonderland-cecil-beatons-life-and-work/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Guest Lecture Series,Lecture
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.sdmart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Cecil-Beaton_150_x40537_web-resize.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20270219T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20270219T113000
DTSTAMP:20260923T000236Z
CREATED:20260827T194422Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260923T000236Z
UID:883213-1803031200-1803036600@www.sdmart.org
SUMMARY:Building Balboa Park: John D. Spreckels and the Shaping of San Diego’s Cultural Heart
DESCRIPTION:Friday\, February 19\n10:00 a.m.\nSpeaker: Sandra E. Bonura\, PhD\, Author and Historian\nMOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater \n  \nJoin The San Diego Museum of Art and Author Sandra E. Bonura\, PhD\, for a behind-the-scenes look into the monumental legacy of John Diedrich Spreckels\, the titan who shaped San Diego’s iconic Balboa Park. While history often casts Spreckels as an industrialist\, he was at his core a passionate patron of the arts who believed deeply in the power of civic beauty. When San Diego took on the gamble of hosting a world-class exposition\, Spreckels stepped up as its financial backbone\, personally underwriting the effort through two turbulent years to guarantee its success. From gifting the majestic Spreckels Organ Pavilion\, a grand musical monument to the public that remains a cultural cornerstone today\, to laying the civic and artistic foundation for what became The San Diego Museum of Art\, Spreckels proved that true empire-building went far beyond rail lines and sugar docks. It was about creating a vibrant\, enduring home for the human spirit. \n  \nPlease note\, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. \n$15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers \nGet Tickets \n  \nThis lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series\, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history\, art theory\, and the museum’s collections. \nSponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council. \n  \nFeatured at top right: Detail of Empire Builder: John D. Spreckels and the Making of San Diego book cover.
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/building-balboa-park-john-d-spreckels-and-the-shaping-of-san-diegos-cultural-heart/
LOCATION:Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art\, 1649 El Prado\, San Diego\, CA\, 92101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Guest Lecture Series,Lecture
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.sdmart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2-27-Sandra-E-Bonura-Book-Cover_Building-Balboa-Park-John-D.-Spreckels-and-the-Shaping-of-San-Diegos-Cultural-Heart_square.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20270319T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20270319T113000
DTSTAMP:20260923T000516Z
CREATED:20260827T195026Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260923T000516Z
UID:883231-1805450400-1805455800@www.sdmart.org
SUMMARY:The Zoo Lady: How Belle Benchley Saved the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park
DESCRIPTION:Friday\, March 19\n10:00 a.m.\nSpeaker: Sandra E. Bonura\, PhD\, Author and Historian\nMOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater \n  \nJoin us at The San Diego Museum of Art for a fully illustrated\, interactive presentation with award-winning biographer and historian Sandra E. Bonura\, PhD\, author of The Zoo Lady: How Belle Benchley Built the San Diego Zoo. When the Fine Arts Gallery (now The San Diego Museum of Art) opened its doors in 1926\, Belle Benchley was stepping up to run the neighboring San Diego Zoo. Over the next three decades\, as SDMA cultivated the city’s artistic soul\, Belle transformed the living world next door into a landmark of its own. In 1925\, a middle-aged\, divorced mother with zero animal training took a temporary bookkeeping job at a struggling local zoo. Through sheer grit\, administrative genius\, and media-savvy marketing\, Benchley didn’t just keep Balboa Park vibrant; she revolutionized animal welfare and built a global conservation powerhouse in our own backyard. Through a rich multimedia showcase featuring rare archival movie clips\, historic radio broadcasts\, and 1920s photography\, Dr. Bonura brings Benchley’s world vividly to life. \n  \nPlease note\, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. \n$15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers \nGet Tickets \n  \nThis lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series\, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history\, art theory\, and the museum’s collections. \nSponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council. \n  \nFeatured at top right: Detail of The Zoo Lady: How Belle Benchley Saved the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park book cover. Artwork by Wagner Humphreys.
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/the-zoo-lady-how-belle-benchley-saved-the-san-diego-zoo-and-balboa-park/
LOCATION:Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art\, 1649 El Prado\, San Diego\, CA\, 92101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Guest Lecture Series,Lecture
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.sdmart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/3-27-Sandra-E-Bonura-Book-Cover_The-Zoo-Lady-How-Belle-Benchley-Saved-the-San-Diego-Zoo-and-Balboa-Park_square.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20270416T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20270416T113000
DTSTAMP:20260923T000535Z
CREATED:20260827T204732Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260923T000535Z
UID:883235-1807869600-1807875000@www.sdmart.org
SUMMARY:Art in the Public Realm
DESCRIPTION:Friday\, April 16\n10:00 a.m.\nSpeaker: Lara Bullock\, PhD\, Civic Art Project Manager with the City of San Diego\nMOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater \n  \nArt extends beyond museum walls to shape the identity of cities and the lives of the people who inhabit them. Drawing on histories of public art and monument-making\, her research on street art\, and her experience working with the Civic Art Collection and contemporary public art in San Diego\, Lara Bullock\, PhD\, considers the complicated relationship between artistic intervention\, institutional authority\, and the shared spaces of the city. Instead of asking “what public art should be?” what happens when we ask “what public art can do?” This talk examines the public art from objects that boldly represent collective histories to practices that invite varied forms of participation.  \n  \nPlease note\, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. \n$15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers \nGet Tickets \n  \nThis lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series\, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history\, art theory\, and the museum’s collections. \nSponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council. \n 
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/art-in-the-public-realm-guest-lecture/
LOCATION:Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art\, 1649 El Prado\, San Diego\, CA\, 92101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Guest Lecture Series,Lecture
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.sdmart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/4-27-Lara-Headshot-Public-Art_web-resize.jpeg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20270521T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20270521T113000
DTSTAMP:20260923T000554Z
CREATED:20260827T200734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260923T000554Z
UID:883253-1810893600-1810899000@www.sdmart.org
SUMMARY:The Neuroscience of Art
DESCRIPTION:Friday\, May 21\n10:00 a.m.\nSpeaker: Ying Choon Wu\, PhD\, Associate Project Scientist\, Institute of Neural Computation\, UC San Diego\nMOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater \n  \nCan works of art change the way we think and feel? Drawing on years of collaborative research between the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and The San Diego Museum of Art\, research scientist Ying Choon Wu\, PhD\, presents groundbreaking findings on the neurological impact of aesthetic experiences. Discover how art influences attention\, emotion\, memory\, and well-being while gaining new scientific insight into the important role museums play in learning\, empathy\, and human connection. \n  \nPlease note\, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. \n$15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers \nGet Tickets \n  \nThis lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series\, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history\, art theory\, and the museum’s collections. \nSponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council. \n  \nFeatured at top right: Photo of Dr. Ying Choon Wu.
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/the-neuroscience-of-art/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Guest Lecture Series,Lecture
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.sdmart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/5-27-YingWu-Photo-1_web-resize.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20270618T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20270618T113000
DTSTAMP:20260923T000612Z
CREATED:20260827T201147Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260923T000612Z
UID:883258-1813312800-1813318200@www.sdmart.org
SUMMARY:The Surprise Artist
DESCRIPTION:Friday\, June 18\n10:00 a.m.\nHosted by: Deidre Guevara\, Director of Community Engagement\, The San Diego Museum of Art\nMOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater \n  \nEvery artist has a story\, but this one remains a surprise until the evening begins. In this signature program\, Deidre Guevara welcomes a contemporary artist whose identity will be revealed shortly before the event. Through an engaging conversation about artistic practice\, creative process\, and personal inspiration\, audiences will enjoy an intimate\, behind-the-scenes look at the ideas shaping contemporary art today. Each edition is unique\, making the element of surprise part of the experience itself. \n  \nPlease note\, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. \n$15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers \nGet Tickets \n  \nThis lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series\, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history\, art theory\, and the museum’s collections. \nSponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council.
URL:https://www.sdmart.org/event/the-surprise-artist/
LOCATION:Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art\, 1649 El Prado\, San Diego\, CA\, 92101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Artist Talk,Guest Lecture Series,Lecture
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.sdmart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/6-27-Surprise-Artist_istockphoto-162254820-612x612-1.jpg
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END:VCALENDAR