Painter Romaine Brooks Challenged Conventions In Shades Of Gray

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Painter Romaine Brooks Challenged Conventions In Shades Of Gray
A wealthy American living in Paris, Brooks had the freedom to paint whatever and however she wanted. In a subtle but powerful palette, she depicted androgynous women and melancholy nudes.

At This Experimental Culinary Event, The Cutlery Is High Art
Three Michelin-starred chefs will cook for 60 guests in a one-night voyage of vittles in California. We talked to an artist creating the virtuosic flatware for the event.

From Darkroom To Kitchen: A Time Capsule Of Recipes From 1970s Photographers
Ansel Adams’ poached eggs. William Eggleston’s cheese grits casserole. Four decades after being hidden away in a museum, a collection of images and recipes from famed artists finally sees the light.

Philly Artist Tastes The Rainbow And Saves The Wrappers
Philly-based artist Sean Brown transforms the refuse from Skittles, Tootsie Pops, Starburst, Mamba — and whatever other candy he can get his hands on — into works of art.

‘Reigning Men’ Traces 300 Years Of Men’s Fashion At LACMA
“Reigning Men” is the name of an exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art that traces 300 years of men’s fashions — from the trousers that became a defining symbol of the French Revolution to the latest from Savile Row.

When Your Dream House Is A Dollhouse, No Space Is Too Small
Two dozen American artists were asked to create their vision of a “dream room,” in miniature form. There’s a lot stuffed into the 15-square-inch boxes: hopes, fears and some really tiny unicorns.

Vive Le Confort! For Corseted Courtiers, This Dress Was A French Revolution
A really old French dress has sold for more than $150,000. The brocade gown is an exquisite example of the loose-fitting dresses that women — fed up with restrictive bodices — embraced in the 1700s.

‘Picturing Children’ Shows More Than A Century Of African-American Childhoods
The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s director Lonnie Bunch talks about a new book from the museum’s collection showing a snapshot of life for African-American children.

#FoodPorn, Circa 1600s: Then And Now, It Was More About Status Than Appetite
A new study of old masters finds that capturing and showing off decadent and expensive meals is a decidedly old-fashioned practice. Like today’s Instagrammers, it was all about projecting an image.

Your Mama … Might Be Offended By This Insult Archive
The Janks Archive is a collection of videos in which people around the world share their favorite putdowns. They can be gross and rude, but according to one creator, they also bring people together.

Models From Norman Rockwell’s Paintings Reunite
On the 100th anniversary of Norman Rockwell’s first Saturday Evening Post cover, several of the children seen in his iconic portraits gathered at the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Robert Irwin Brings ‘Big’ To Texas With Permanent Art Installation
The 87-year-old conceptual artist unveils a large-scale installation of his work in Marfa, Texas, this week. He’s spent his career creating site-specific art that often treats light as its subject.

To Rebrand Itself, Greece Digs Deep Into Its Cultural DNA
The news out of Greece has been terrible. But with a large new exhibition of ancient artifacts at Washington, D.C.’s National Geographic Museum, the Greek government is trying an image reboot.

Scraped, Splattered – But Silent No More. Finally, The Dinner Plate Gets Its Say
Instagram is the Internet’s semi-obsessive, borderline-creepy love letter to food. But behind every great meal is a plate doing a pretty-OK job. So a comedian made an Instagram to celebrate plates.

‘The Battle For Home’ Traces Syria’s History Through Architecture
NPR’s Kelly McEvers speaks with Homs-based architect Marwa al-Sabouni, about her new book The Battle for Home, which traces Syria’s past, present and possible future through the lens of architecture.

Met’s ‘Unfinished’ Exhibit Offers A Glimpse Of The Artistic Mind At Work
The inaugural show at the Metropolitan Museum’s Met Breuer branch raises the question of what makes a finished work of art. Critic Lloyd Schwartz calls it “an astonishing gathering of masterpieces.”

When You’re A Nomad, You Need Portable Art
A new exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art shows how the Maasai and other cultures transform bowls, belts and shields into objects of beauty.

Dalí Provides A Surrealist Shot In The Arm For A Fading Monterey Museum
A huge collection of Salvador Dalí’s art is now open in a former history museum in Monterey, Calif. It’s the work of real estate mogul Dmitry Piterman, who has amassed more than 570 Dalí pieces.

Boston Considers Landmark Status For Legendary Citgo Sign
The Boston Landmarks Commission voted to study whether the modern – and some say – tacky, Citgo sign is culturally important enough to warrant state protection as a historic landmark.

At LA’s MOCA, A Celebrated Chef Serves Up Dinner As Art Installation
Craig Thornton is behind some of the most coveted meal reservations in LA. For the past five months, he’s been melding dining, sculpture and taxidermy at the city’s Museum of Contemporary Art.

Black Lives Matter Activists Take It Off The Street And Into The Museum
A postcard from the Underground Museum in Los Angeles, featuring reactions to the week’s events from several founders of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Oklahoma City Unveils Exclusive North American Matisse Exhibition
A collection of 100 works of art by Henri Matisse and his contemporaries is now on display at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. It’s the only North American venue for the exhibition.

Los Angeles Chef Pushes Boundaries Of Taste In Art Installation
Los Angeles’s top cult chef has been pushing the boundaries of taste at the Museum of Contemporary Art with an art installation that combines dining, sculpture and taxidermy. It’s also a way for a museum to connect with the city’s vibrant food scene.

QUIZ: What Does Food Symbolize In Art? Test Your Knowledge
Artists have been painting food into their work since ancient times. You know it looks delicious, but how well can you decipher what foods mean in art? Take this quiz to find out.

National Park Daguerreotypes Invite Viewers To ‘Merge With The Land’
Photographer Binh Danh melds early photographic materials and timeless landscapes to produce ethereal images of national parks. He says it’s his hope that viewers “see themselves in the picture.”

A Chat With The Painter Whose Work Inspired Kanye West’s ‘Famous’
All Vincent Desiderio knew when he agreed to fly to Los Angeles was that West was a fan of his work. Twenty-four hours later, he found out just how deep the rapper’s appreciation went.

Overlooked But Undeterred, A 101-Year-Old Artist Finally Gets Her Due
Carmen Herrera was making art in the ’50s and ’60s but her male counterparts were getting all of the attention. Now, she’s still hard at work and finally getting some long overdue recognition.

The Architecture Project Behind Obama’s Chicago Presidential Library
The Obama Foundation named Tod Williams and Billie Tsien as the architects of the presidential museum and library. Scott Simon talks to Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin.

Why Does Every New Restaurant Look Like A Factory?
The stripped-down look of exposed brick, poured cement floors and Edison light bulbs is popular in restaurants across America. One reporter dares to ask, “Seriously, why?”

A 24-Year-Old Designed A Self-Driving Minibus; Maker Built It In Weeks
What if cars weren’t mass produced? Local Motors, a small-batch auto manufacturer, relies on an online design community and a “co-creation” business model to bring new vehicles to market, really fast.

Meet William Merritt Chase, The Man Who Taught America’s Masters
Chase taught some of America’s greatest artists, including Georgia O’Keeffe and Edward Hopper. On the centennial of the great teacher’s death, a new exhibit in Washington, D.C., celebrates his life.

Hieronymus Bosch Died 500 Years Ago, But His Art Will Still Creep You Out
Known by some as “the Devil’s painter,” Bosch depicted imaginary animals and souls being violently tortured. At least one critic believes he’s the father of modern art.

Bill Cunningham, Iconic ‘New York Times’ Photographer, Dies At 87
Cunningham worked at the Times for almost 40 years, capturing the fashion trends of the day with a timeless eye.

Looking Back On How The National Gallery Of Art Got Its Start 75 Years Ago
Philanthropist and collector Paul Mellon gave the gift of art to the American people. The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. is honoring that gift as part of its 75th anniversary celebration.

When King Came To Chicago: See The Rare Images Of His Campaign — In Color
Fifty years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. went north, leading the Chicago Freedom Movement. Bernard Kleina and his camera were there, too — and the former priest walks NPR through his color photos.