“Artful Observations” hopes to encourage critical thinking, careful observation, and perspective taking through guided close looking exercises. No formal art or art history training is required to participate.

Each session will focus on one work of art from NMAAHC’s visual arts or photography collection. Guided by an NMAAHC educator, participants will spend an hour examining the work in detail. Participants in the program will have the opportunity to share their inferences and interpretations based on visual observations.

Brief contextual information, supported by collection objects, will be provided to round out participants’ broader understanding of the selected piece.