The art world never sits still. It shifts, stretches, collides, and reshapes itself as artists, institutions, and global conversations intersect in unexpected ways. Instead of trying to keep up with these changes from a distance, this seminar places you right in the center of the action. It invites you to learn by being in the room, to experience what it feels like to stand inside a working studio, speak directly with artists and curators, and move through the spaces where new ideas take shape.

Throughout the semester, we will use New York City as our classroom. We will visit artists in their studios, talk with professionals who shape contemporary art from behind the scenes, and explore galleries, nonprofits, alternative spaces, and venues that challenge traditional formats. These experiences will open up the many ways artists build their practices, form communities, and carve out fulfilling creative lives. You will see how networks of support and collaboration emerge and how they help artists thrive in a city known for its intensity and its possibilities.

We will also explore art that steps beyond the white cube and into the public realm, where it connects with new audiences and unexpected contexts. You will encounter artists who stretch the definition of what an exhibition can be, who it can reach, and how it can function in the world. Our discussions will draw from readings that focus on artist communities, collaboration, and creative correspondence to help you develop your own conceptual grounding.

By the end of the course, you will not only have a deeper understanding of contemporary art but also a lived experience of the environments that inspire it. This seminar is about stepping into the field, meeting the people who bring it to life, and gaining the insight, confidence, and curiosity to shape your own creative practice.

Taught by Skip Brea