Posts
“Inside the MFAH” provides perspectives, conversations, and opinions from insiders at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Curator Close-Up: “Glory of Spain” Ancient Ivory Pyxis March 24, 2020
Aimée Froom, MFAH curator of art of the Islamic worlds, delves into the meaning of this ancient pyxis, showcased in Glory of Spain.
The Visual Arts Meet the Literary Arts at the MFAH March 5, 2019
Calling all writers! MFAH programs create exciting connections between the literary and visual arts.
Garden Varieties: The Natural Beauty of “Garden Paradise” January 25, 2019
Gardens have long been celebrated in Islamic art as symbols of earthly paradise.
Top 12 Wintry Works of Art, Selected by MFAH Curatorial Staff December 13, 2018
From scenes of ice and snow to objects that signify holiday and entertaining traditions, art at the MFAH shows how cultures around the world reflect on winter. Curatorial staff members share favorite works of art that relate to the season.
Connections: The Islamic Carpet in Persia and Great Britain November 27, 2018
Look closely and spot a cross-cultural connection in two exhibitions on view this fall and winter. Persian carpets, like the one on display in Garden Paradise, appear in portraits of British royals in Tudors to Windsors.
Carpet Connoisseurship: How to Look Closely at the “Wagner Garden Carpet” October 29, 2018
A guide to looking closely at the rarely displayed Wagner Garden Carpet, a 17th-century Perisan carpet as beautiful as any painting.
Royal Reflections: Rulers in Art from the MFAH Collections October 12, 2018
Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits from Holbein to Warhol inspires a closer look at works of art from the MFAH collections that highlight the many ways to show power across the globe.
Let’s Dance! Celebrate National Dance Day with Works of Art July 23, 2018
An integral part of religions and cultures for millennia, dance appears in visual arts from all over the world. Celebrate National Dance Day with works from the MFAH collections that show the many meanings of the art of movement.
Looking at “Art of the Islamic Worlds” in a Digital Exhibition February 22, 2018
This summer I saw sights and wonders of the Islamic worlds, from Iran’s Safavid dynasty (1501–1736) to India’s Mughal empire (1526–1857). I experienced magnificent architecture and lush gardens, and read beautiful calligraphic texts—all from my desk at the MFAH.
Love, Longing & Desire in “Bestowing Beauty” February 2, 2018
Love is one of the most celebrated subjects in art. The universal desire for the deepest form of human connection also finds expression in the Persian art and literature highlighted in Bestowing Beauty: Masterpieces from Persian Lands.