Thursday, July 17, 2025
6 – 8 pm EDT
Exhibition Galleries

This program is at capacity. If you have questions or would like to receive advance notification about future programs, please email info@thejm.org.

Join curator Laura Katzman for a series of gallery talks of Ben Shahn, On Nonconformity. These tours will highlight key themes in the exhibition as well as demonstrate how Shahn’s prolific and progressive commitment to confronting issues of the 20th century still resonates today. Talks begin at 6pm and take place in the exhibition, followed by a reception with light refreshments in the museum lobby until 8pm.

July 17: In the first talk of the series, Katzman will be joined by contemporary artist Aliza Nisenbaum to discuss Shahn’s engagement with socially conscious art and Mexican muralists throughout his career.

About the artist:
Born in Mexico City, Aliza Nisenbaum makes portrait paintings that are the manifestation of exchanges with her subjects that take place over time. Distinct social groups are at the foreground of her work, including immigrant communities, dancers, members of grassroot organizations, subway, airport, and health workers. She engages with these groups on various levels, sharing resources, skills and ultimately, social representation. Her lengthy engagement with her subjects allows her to understand their histories and dignity beyond the space of portraiture. Often lushly decorated with patterned textiles found in her sitter’s homes and tiles from workplace settings, she makes visible the material conditions, friendships and alliances of particular work and leisure environments. 

Her work is found in numerous museum collections including the Tate, the Aishti Foundation, The Hirshhorn Museum, The Rennie Museum, The Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Whitney Museum of American art.

 July 24: In this second talk in a series of three, learn more from Katzman about the process of curating the exhibition and the life and work of Ben Shahn.

July 31:  In the final gallery talk of this series, Katzman will be joined by Sharon Ann Musher, professor of history at Stockton University, whose research focuses on the United States in the New Deal Era and Jewish-American History. This talk will focus on how Shahn’s artistic practice relates to his spirituality and Jewish identity.

Tickets: Free with Museum Admission; Advance RSVP Required