SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) are pleased to present internationally renowned artist Ana de Alvear as the featured speaker for the 20th annual Axline Lecture on Thursday, October 22, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. PDT. This year’s Axline Lecture will be hosted virtually by The San Diego Museum of Art. The Museum will have a dedicated exhibition featuring works by Ana de Alvear on view from June 18 through September 27, 2021.
Ana de Alvear is a multidisciplinary, Madrid-based artist known for her hyper-realistic drawn works of art that play with the equivocation between reality and its representation. De Alvear uses visual archetypes that inspire investigations of the self and exploration of obstacles related to self-esteem and self-identification. Placing these visual archetypes outside of their usual environments allows the viewer to isolate their own relationship to the main objects and the response they elicit. The works offer a tool of self-reflection to identify what we, as viewers, have constructed about ourselves and the world, and the benefit of seeing those constructs more clearly.
Adjusting to each space specifically, de Alvear’s work is based mainly on multidisciplinary installations where new experimental materials and media play a fundamental role in the dialog. Her work has been shown at museums of natural sciences and botanical gardens around the world.
In 2006, de Alvear founded Vital International Video Art (VIVA), a traveling exhibition where international artists can find a meeting point for intellectual discourse and create a network around the globe with curators, galleries, institutions, foundations and private collections.
In this live online lecture, de Alvear discusses the underlying themes and her methods used in creating the incredible works from her upcoming exhibition, Everything You See Could Be A Lie: Photorealistic Drawings by Ana de Alvear. Members and ticket buyers will also enjoy access to a live virtual studio tour by the artist of her workspace in Spain on Saturday, October 17, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. PDT as a part of their ticket reservation.
Since 2000, The San Diego Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego have partnered to present the annual Axline Lecture in honor of Jackie and Rea Axline, long-time trustees and supporters of both museums who in 1999 bequeathed generous endowments to both institutions. Hosted in alternate years by each museum, this annual event offers an opportunity to say thank you to current museum members, donors, and supporters.
Previous Axline Lectures have featured artist Trevor Paglen (2019); contemporary artist Nancy Lorenz (2018); photographer Catherine Opie (2017); photographer Sebastião Salgado (2016); artist El Anatsui (2015); contemporary artist Alfredo Jaar (2014); sculptor Charles Ray (2013); former director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Philippe de Montebello (2012); South African artist William Kentridge (2011); among many others.
Lecture tickets are free for The San Diego Museum of Art and MCASD members; $5 for students; $10 for seniors and military; and $15 for nonmembers. Virtual event access information for both the Virtual Studio Tour on October 17, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. PDT and the Axline Lecture on October 22, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. PDT will be shared with ticket confirmation. Tickets can be purchased at www.SDMArt.org.
About The San Diego Museum of Art
Providing a rich and diverse cultural experience, The San Diego Museum of Art houses some of the world’s finest art. Located in the heart of Balboa Park, the Museum’s internationally renowned collection of more than 20,000 works–dating from 3000 BC to present day–includes Spanish and Italian old masters, South Asian paintings including the Edwin Binney 3rd Collection of Indian paintings, East Asian art, American art, and Modern and Contemporary paintings and sculptures. The Museum regularly features major exhibitions of art from around the world, as well as an extensive year-round schedule supporting cultural and educational programs for children and adults. It also hosts engaging experiences that invite visitors to explore art through music, dance, film, food, and so much more. At The San Diego Museum of Art, exhibition text is always in English and Spanish.
The San Diego Museum of Art is located at 1450 El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego, Calif., 92101. General Information, (619) 232-7931, Group Sales: (619) 696-1935, Website: https://www.sdmart.org Twitter: @SDMA, Instagram: @SanDiegoMuseumofArt Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSanDiegoMuseumOfArt.
About Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Founded in 1941, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is the preeminent contemporary visual arts institution in San Diego County. The Museum’s collection includes more than 4,700 works of art created since 1950. In addition to presenting exhibitions by international contemporary artists, the Museum serves thousands of children and adults annually at its varied education programs, and offers a rich program of film, performance, and lectures. MCASD is a private, nonprofit organization, with 501(c)3 tax-exempt status; it is supported by generous contributions and grants from MCASD Members and other individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies. Kathryn Kanjo is The David C. Copley Director and CEO at MCASD. www.mcasd.org
Institutional support for MCASD is provided by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture.
