Edward J. Sullivan, the Helen Gould Sheppard Professor of Art History at New York University, will present a comparative account of the ways in which the arts in the Americas were modernized during the first half the twentieth century. Drawing from his latest book, Making the Americas Modern: Hemispheric Art, 1910-1960, Sullivan relate stories of the ways in which artists from different regions adapted and experimented with visual expression, while also absorbing trans-national and international influences.

For professor Sullivan, this rich diversity is most evident in the various forms of abstract art that emerged throughout the Americas and which in turn had an impact on art throughout the world.

Professor Sullivan’s other publication include The Language of Objects in the Art of the Americas (2007) and From San Juan to Paris and Back: Francisco Oller and Caribbean Art in the Era of Impressionism (2014)

Following the lecture, the Art and Art History Program at NYU Abu Dhabi invites you to join a conversation with local thought leaders about the future of arts education in the UAE, and to discuss the university’s plans for developing graduate programs.