Art History & Appreciation

More Than Life Drawing: Objectification and the Gaze

Event Information
Join Us

Advance registration is required.

This is event is being held online. After registering, connection information will be emailed to you.

General Public
$15
PAFA Members: $10
Contact
Abby King
Hayden Stern, Self Portrait. Graphite, 2021.

More Than Life Drawing will feature 90 minutes of drawing time with live, discussion-style interviews with participating figure models. These sessions will showcase not only the stories of the figure models who inspire us, but will also position the practice of life modeling as active, artistic and activistic. Bring your charcoal, pencils and paint and join us for a lively night of drawing, learning and fun!

Behind every work of figurative art there is a model whose own artistic skills were essential in that work's creation. However, despite being visible as the subjects of these works, life models are nearly always overlooked in their role as active agents in the artistic process, and are seen instead as "mercenary drawing instruments."* 

Each of the three events will feature two models who hold one or more marginalized identities, including People of Color, and individuals who are Fat, Gender-Expansive, and/or Disabled. More Than Life Drawing is held in concert with PAFA's groundbreaking exhibition Joan Semmel: Skin in the Game.

Join us with guests Hayden Stern, alluris-michele, and Deyanna Denyse as we seek to detangle the dilemma of Objectification & The Gaze.

* term coined by artist and model Dominic Blake

The event will include some nudity. Audience members must be 18 years or older.

Professional live interpreter ASL service will be provided for all three events.

Image: Hayden Stern, Self Portrait. Graphite, 2021.