
April 28 at 6:00 PM ONLINE
The Venice Biennale:
Traditions, History, and Dreams
Conference by Greer Pagano, Ph.D.
The Venice Biennale began in 1895 as an intentionally international celebration of the art world. It has continued to be a locus for innovation, political commentary, social interaction, and a prestigious platform for the display of groundbreaking modern and contemporary art. This presentation looks at poignant and powerful moments throughout the Biennale's history and celebrates the upcoming 59th edition entitled The Milk of Dreams, which the Biennale Curator Cecilia Alemani describes as “an imaginary journey through metamorphoses of the body and definitions of humanity.” We will give special attention to the American artist Simone Leigh who will represent the United States with a series of monumental clay and bronze sculptures that draw on the labor and resilience of Black women across global histories. NYT
The Venice Biennale:
Traditions, History, and Dreams
Conference by Greer Pagano, Ph.D.
The Venice Biennale began in 1895 as an intentionally international celebration of the art world. It has continued to be a locus for innovation, political commentary, social interaction, and a prestigious platform for the display of groundbreaking modern and contemporary art. This presentation looks at poignant and powerful moments throughout the Biennale's history and celebrates the upcoming 59th edition entitled The Milk of Dreams, which the Biennale Curator Cecilia Alemani describes as “an imaginary journey through metamorphoses of the body and definitions of humanity.” We will give special attention to the American artist Simone Leigh who will represent the United States with a series of monumental clay and bronze sculptures that draw on the labor and resilience of Black women across global histories. NYT

Bio: Dr. Pagano is an independent curator and educator based in Philadelphia. She received a Ph.D. in Art History from Ohio State University. Her dissertation focused on Giuseppe Penone and looked at engagement between body and work in four of Penone’s projects from the late 1960s and 1970s. She has a Masters in Art Education at Ohio State University and a BA in Art History and Italian from Washington University in St. Louis.
Dr. Pagano was Chief Curator at the Pizzuti Collection in Columbus, Ohio where she organized exhibitions including work by Sarah Cain, Odili Donald Odita, Alec Soth, Hank Willis Thomas, and Simone Leigh among many others. Dr. Pagano has been an instructor for undergraduate art education and art history at Ohio State University, Columbus College of Art and Design, and Moore College of Art and Design. Recent projects include an exhibition at the Beeler Gallery in Columbus, OH featuring Bianca Beck, Tamara Gonzales, and Christina Forrer and an upcoming solo exhibition of Becky Suss at The Contemporary Dayton.
Bio: Dr. Pagano is an independent curator and educator based in Philadelphia. She received a Ph.D. in Art History from Ohio State University. Her dissertation focused on Giuseppe Penone and looked at engagement between body and work in four of Penone’s projects from the late 1960s and 1970s. She has a Masters in Art Education at Ohio State University and a BA in Art History and Italian from Washington University in St. Louis.
Dr. Pagano was Chief Curator at the Pizzuti Collection in Columbus, Ohio where she organized exhibitions including work by Sarah Cain, Odili Donald Odita, Alec Soth, Hank Willis Thomas, and Simone Leigh among many others. Dr. Pagano has been an instructor for undergraduate art education and art history at Ohio State University, Columbus College of Art and Design, and Moore College of Art and Design. Recent projects include an exhibition at the Beeler Gallery in Columbus, OH featuring Bianca Beck, Tamara Gonzales, and Christina Forrer and an upcoming solo exhibition of Becky Suss at The Contemporary Dayton.