Visual Arts

Explore exhibitions, artists, and visual works that enrich Harvard’s cultural and academic life.

A vibrant composition of flowers, a bird, and butterflies with a distant manor under a moody sky.

Rachel Ruysch’s Lush (Still) Life

Now on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, a Dutch painter’s art proved a treasure trove for scientists.

by Lydialyle Gibson

Three models showcase distinct fashions: a floral black gown, a blue top with a floral yellow skirt, and a green dress.

The Peabody Essex Museum Spotlights Designer Andrew Gn

Landmark exhibition on global fashion 

by Nell Porter-Brown

A whimsical illustration of a man balancing on a rooftop edge, wearing a suit and glasses.

The Artist Edward Gorey—and Pets—at Harvard

Winter exhibits at Houghton Library   

by Nell Porter-Brown

Two women in traditional Japanese clothing sitting on a wooden platform near a tranquil pond, surrounded by autumn foliage.

Japan As It Never Will Be Again

Harvard’s Stillman collection showcases glimpses of the Meiji era. 

by Lydialyle Gibson

A drawing of a young boy reading by lamplight.

What of the Humble Pencil?

Review: At the Harvard Art Museums’ new exhibit, drawing takes center stage

by Olivia Farrar

Two people moving large abstract painting with blue V-shaped design in museum courtyard.

A Harvard Art Museums Painting Gets a Bath

Water and sunlight help restore a modern American classic.

by Max J. Krupnick

A woman and a horse jump off a large platform into water

The Woman Who Rode Horses Into the Water

Scrapbooking a woman who rode horses into the sea

by Max J. Krupnick

A six-foot-tall, five-panel folded screen stands in a field of grass next to the woods. It's painted different shades of green, with some squares cut out that represent digital pixels.

Julia Rooney’s Cyanotype Art At Harvard

Julia Rooney’s paintings cross the analog-digital divide.

by Claire Zulkey

Two photos of the same woman, one as a store worker the other as an Arctic explorer

Jung Yeondoo: Building Dreams at the Peabody Essex Museum

South Korean artist’s socially themed photographs at the Peabody Essex Museum

by Nell Porter-Brown

Perspective view of a train on tracks lined by trees, surrounded by colorfully dressed onlookers.

Paper Peepshows at Harvard's Baker Library

How “paper peepshows” brought distant realms to life

by Nina Pasquini

Garden view of Aspet, with vibrant flower beds and Mount Ascutney in the background.

The Estate Behind Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

Park offers art, nature, and history in New Hampshire

by Nell Porter-Brown