Harry Bertoia Symposium

Sculpting Mid-Century Modern Life

January 29, 2022

An in-depth discussion of the work and impact of American artist Harry Bertoia (1915–1978), who was one of the most prolific, innovative artists of the postwar period. Bertoia’s legacy includes designs for one-of-a kind jewelry and iconic chairs, thousands of unique sculptures including large-scale commissions for significant buildings, and advancing the use of sound as sculptural material. Harry Bertoia: Sculpting Mid-Century Modern Life questions how and why we distinguish between a chair, a necklace, a screen, and a freestanding sculpture—and what Bertoia’s sculptural things, when seen together, say about the fluidity of visual language across culture, both at mid-century and now.  

The Nature of Arp Symposium

September 15, 2018

A panel of experts on the life and work of Jean (Hans) Arp gathered on opening weekend of The Nature of Arp for a thoughtful discussion about the work of one of the most important and multifaceted artists of the modern era.

First Sculpture Symposium

January 27, 2018

An in-depth discussion about the origins of creativity in the human mind presented in conjunction with a groundbreaking exhibition curated by an artist and an anthropologist. First Sculpture: Handaxe to Figure Stone presents prehistoric handaxes and figure stones as evidence of the earliest forms of artistic intention among our ancient ancestors.

French Sculpture Census

Stories from the French Sculpture Census

February 21, 2015

From beloved works by Matisse and Rodin in museums to American icons like the Statue of Liberty, French sculpture has had an indelible impact on the cultural landscape of the U.S. In celebration of a website that reveals the extent of this shared history, Laure de Margerie and panelists from the project’s international partner institutions share stories of works drawn from the database of the French Sculpture Census.

Return to Earth

Ceramic Sculpture of Fontana, Melotti, Miró, Noguchi, and Picasso, 1943–1963, and Its Legacy

September 21, 2013

Organized to coincide with the public opening of the exhibition Return to Earth: Ceramic Sculpture of Fontana, Melotti, Miró, Noguchi, and Picasso, 1943–1963, this symposium offers a number of new perspectives on the often-overlooked, yet ground-breaking work in fired clay of some of the most important artists of the 20th century.

Matisse : Painter as Sculptor

March 17, 2007

Matisse: Painter as Sculptor was organized thematically around a core group of more than 40 of Matisse’s great sculptural masterworks, complemented with a selection of related works on paper, paintings, and original photographs of the artist at work. These groupings helped to illuminate the evolution of Matisse’s creative process, and reveal the dialogue between the two- and three-dimensional in his oeuvre.

Variable States

Intention, Appearance and Interpretation in Modern Sculpture

October 22 - 23, 2004

The Nasher marked its first anniversary with an interdisciplinary conference focused on issues of interpretation and meaning surrounding the variability of physical states in modern sculpture. Co-organized with the J. Paul Getty Museum and funded by the J. Paul Getty Trust, the conference brought together over 130 art historians, conservators and curators for a fruitful exchange of ideas and information.