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Join us on Saturday, March 14, at 1pm for a powerful discussion on the complex history of museum collections and their role in shaping narratives around race and identity.
In conversation with Ken Gonzales-Day (@kengonzalesday), artist, educator, and scholar; Luke Fidler, Assistant Professor of Art History at USC, and Tatiana Flores(@tatigrams), Jefferson Scholars Foundation Edgar Shannon Distinguished Professor of Art History at the University of Virginia. Moderated by Amelia Jones (@amelia.jones.la1987), Robert A. Day Professor at the Roski School of Art & Design and curator of Ken Gonzales- Day: History`s “Nevermade.”
Following the discussion, guests are invited to stay for light refreshments and view the final day of Ken Gonzales- Day: History`s “Nevermade.”
🗓 Saturday, March 14, 2026
🕐 1:00 pm – 2:30 PM
📍USC Fisher Museum of Art| 823 W Exposition Blvd. LA CA 90089
RSVP: Link in bio or at fisher.edu/events
If you are in town for Frieze Los Angeles or looking to spend time with meaningful and thought-provoking art, the USC Fisher Museum of Art will be open from Tuesday through Friday (2/24-2/27) from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Join us for our current exhibition, Ken Gonzales-Day: History`s "Nevermade" curated by Amelia Jones, Robert Day Professor at the USC Roski School of Art & Design. The exhibit brings together over 100 works spanning photography, drawing, painting, video, and research-based practice. Gonzales-Day’s work examines cultural memory, race, and place in the United States.
We are also pleased to share that Ken Gonzales-Day will lead a special exhibition walkthrough on Tuesday, 2/24. A wonderful opportunity to hear directly from the artist about their process and research behind the work. RSVP LINK IN BIO
📍 Visit us during Frieze Week
🗓 February 24th – February 27th from 10 AM to 4 PM.
🎟 Open to all; FREE
#friezeweekla #friezelosangeles
Just in case you missed it, USC Fisher Museum of Art is proud to team up with the Getty (@gettymuseum ) and LACMA (@lacma ) to celebrate the incredible legacy of architect Paul R. Williams, the first Black architect licensed west of the Mississippi, the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects nationwide, the first Black architect to be awarded the IAI’s highest honor, and a trailblazer whose work helped shape Los Angeles.
From August 2026 through July 2027, USC Fisher Museum of Art, Getty, and LACMA will present a coordinated series of exhibitions showcasing Williams’s groundbreaking designs and influence.
Paul R. Williams: An Architect Considered
USC Fisher Museum of Art
Aug. 18, 2026-March 13, 2027
Organized by the USC School of Architecture (@uscarchitecture )and the USC Fisher Museum of Art, this exhibition examines Paul R. Williams’ significant contribution to modern multifamily housing. It features original archival drawings alongside new works by contemporary artists and architects, highlighting 35 housing projects from Williams’ 60-year career and his dedication to creating dignified, innovative housing during a period of rapid urban growth. Seven new commissions by Edgar Arceneaux (@edgar_three ); Current Interests (Matthew Au and Mira Henry)(@current_____interests ); enFOLD Collective (Dana McKinney White and Megan Echols) (@enfoldcollective ); Darell W. Fields; David Hartt (@david_hartt ); Cory Henry (@ateliercoryhenry );and Amanda Williams (@awstudioart );offers fresh perspective on Williams’ lasting influences on architecture and housing today.
Guest curators: Valery Augustin (@augustin.valery ), Milton S. F. Curry and Amy Murphy(@amy_murphy143 ).
Significant funding has been provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation(@mellonfoundation ).
Tap the link in our bio to read the full article.
#PaulRWilliams #USC #LACMA #gettymuseum #GettyResearchInstitute
Happy New Year 🎉 The USC Fisher Museum of Art is officially open again after the holiday break.
We are back to our regular hours:
Tuesday-Saturday: Open from 10AM to 4PM
Monday & Sunday: CLOSED
Here is an artwork from our collection by Mexican American artist Roberto Gil de Montes. Untitled (Nude woman carried by men with masks), 1994, etching with watercolor, 17.14 x 20.95 cm. USC Fisher Museum of Art, Los Angeles, The Dr. Eugene Rogolsky Collection.
This Saturday, Dec. 6th, from 4pm to 5:30pm, Queer Photography with Ken Gonzales-Day (@kengonzalesday) and Paul Mpagi Sepuya (@pagmi), moderated by Amelia Jones (@amelia.jones.la1987) at One Archives (@onearchivesusc).
Don’t miss our final event of the year! Join us for a conversation on queer desires, queer histories, the power and limits of queer photography with two incredible photographers. Each has solo exhibits currently on view in Los Angeles.
In partnership with ONE Archives, Los Angeles Nomadic Division, and USC Fisher Museum of Art.
🗓️Date: Saturday, December 6
⏰ Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
📍 Location: ONE Archives | 909 W Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
🎟️ RSVP: Link in bio or at fisher.usc.edu/events
Paul Mpagi Sepuya: Excerpts & Fragments, on view through December 21, 2025, at 2413 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Curated by Christopher Mangum-James, LAND`s deputy director. The exhibition brings together twenty years of Sepuya’s zines, artist books, and collages. The show also features a site-specific facade installation commissioned for the exhibition that can be experienced at all hours
Ken Gonzales-Day: History`s "Nevermade" on view through March 14, 2026, at USC Fisher Museum of Art, 823 W Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90089. Curated by Amelia Jones, Robert Day Professor and Vice Dean of Faculty and Research at the USC Roski School of Art & Design. Ken Gonzales-Day: History’s “Nevermade” is the first mid-career survey of the Los Angeles–based artist, scholar, and educator. Spanning more than 30 years and featuring over 100 works, the exhibition brings together Gonzales-Day’s photographs, drawings, paintings, video, and research to explore cultural memory, race, and place in the United States.
🎤 SPEAKER HIGHLIGHT: LEILA STEINBERG
We’re honored to welcome Leila Steinberg, educator, writer, poet, and founder of @aim4theheartorg to Art After Dark!
Leila has spent decades empowering at-risk youth to find their voice through emotional literacy and creative expression. Best known for mentoring and managing Tupac Shakur. Leila’s influence continues to shape new generations of artists — including her work as the manager of Earl Sweatshirt (formerly of Odd Future). 🎶💫
Join Leila Steinberg, Diego Gaeta, and Brittany Freedman for a conversation on storytelling, music, and resilience.
🗓️ Date: Thursday, November 6th
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Location: USC Fisher Museum of Art | 823 W Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90089
🎟️ RSVP: Link in bio or at f#uscfishermuseumofart
#ArtAfterDark #LeilaSteinberg #AIM4TheHeART #StorytellingThroughArt #MusicAndResilience #ArtsAndCulture #Tupac #USCFisherMuseumOfArt #FisherMuseum
Take Advantage of Extended Hours at Fisher!
On Tuesday, September 23, we will be open late from 4–7 PM so you can experience our current exhibition before heading to the evening’s Roski Talks lecture.
📍 Just a one-minute walk from the museum, join us at the Gin D. Wong Auditorium, Harris Hall 101 from 7–8:20 PM for a conversation with renowned artist Ken Gonzales-Day. RSVP link in our bio!
The Roski Talks series brings leading artists, designers, scholars, and cultural innovators to USC for intimate, engaging presentations—always followed by open dialogue and Q&A. Don’t miss this night of art and conversation!
Photo by Capture Imaging
Tour Downtown Los Angeles and learn about the city’s often-overlooked history. 🔍
Artist Ken Gonzales-Day devoted two decades to reconstructing the history of lynching in California, documenting over 350 lynching cases, 59 of which occurred in Los Angeles. Gonzales-Day will guide us through these historic sites, offering us the opportunity to learn about these enduring legacies and reflect on how these events continue to shape our present-day. Additionally, Edgar Garcia, Interim General Manager of El Pueblo, will join us and share his expertise on El Pueblo and Olvera Street`s history. After, guests are welcome to join us for a community collective conversation.
Please note the walking tour is 45 minutes long and will take place outdoors in downtown Los Angeles. Space is limited; RSVP is required (link in bio). The meeting point details will be provided closer to the tour date.
In partnership with El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument Department.
Learn more about Ken Gonzales-Day, the artist behind our newest exhibition, History’s “Nevermade”. 💡
Based in Los Angeles, Gonzales-Day is known for his groundbreaking work that examines the construction of race and the power—and limits—of representation. From his acclaimed "Erased Lynching" series and book "Lynching in the West: 1850–1935," which reshaped our understanding of racialized violence in California, to his "Profiled" series exploring racial depictions in museum collections worldwide, his practice confronts hidden histories and silenced voices.
A Guggenheim Fellow with work in the collections of MoMA, LACMA, the Getty, the Smithsonian, and more, Gonzales-Day continues to push conversations on race, memory, and representation through art.
Come experience his vision in History’s “Nevermade”, now on view at Fisher.
During the run of Ken Gonzales-Day: History’s “Nevermade,” we’re highlighting key stories explored in the exhibition.
Today’s Focus: Phrenology
In this work, Gonzales-Day examines how 18th–19th century European practices like phrenology and physiognomy attempted to measure “race” and “character” by head size and shape. These pseudosciences shaped how museums valued objects as “Western” or “non-Western,” reinforcing colonial power and justifying systemic violence.
To bring this history to light, Gonzales-Day rebuilt the silhouette machine of Swiss writer Johann Caspar Lavater (1741–1801), making visible the ways identity was objectified and instrumentalized.
📍 Explore these stories in person—Ken Gonzales-Day: History’s “Nevermade” is now on view at USC Fisher Museum of Art. Plan your visit today!
Object: Johann Caspar Lavater`s Silhouette Machine
(A Sure and Convenient Machine for Creating
Silhouettes), ca. 1780, 2008
Profiled series
Re-fabricated by Ken Gonzales-Day
Mixed media
Courtesy of the artist and Luis De Jesus Los Angeles
Go behind the scenes of “Nevermade” 🔍 Link in our bio to RSVP!
Join artist Ken Gonzales-Day and curator Amelia G. Jones for an exclusive walkthrough of History’s “Nevermade”. Together, they’ll dive into the photographs, drawings, paintings, and research that uncover hidden histories—spotlighting the voices and stories often erased from America’s past.
Don’t miss this chance to explore how art can reshape cultural memory and bring silenced narratives to light.
Tomorrow is the big day! 🎉
We’re thrilled to kick off Ken Gonzales-Day: History’s “Nevermade”, the first mid-career survey of the Los Angeles–based artist, scholar, and educator. Curated by Amelia Jones, Robert Day Professor and Vice Dean of Faculty and Research at the USC Roski School of Art & Design, this landmark exhibition spans over 30 years and more than 100 works.
From photographs and paintings to video and research, Gonzales-Day challenges us to reconsider cultural memory, race, and place in the United States. His concept of the “nevermade”—imagined documents that question who gets to write history—threads through seven thematic sections that trace his remarkable career.
Don’t miss your chance to experience this groundbreaking exhibition, opening tomorrow at the USC Fisher Museum of Art. Please check out our website for updated hours!
Image: Ken Gonzales-Day, Joey, E. First Street, NYC, 1986
A mid-career survey of artist, photographer, and scholar Ken Gonzales-Day, History’s “Nevermade” opens August 19 at USC Fisher Museum of Art.
Spanning over 30 years of photographs, drawings, paintings, and films, the exhibition examines race, place, and the narratives that shape American history. From confronting histories of racial violence in “Erased Lynching” and “Searching for California’s Hang Trees,” to revealing biases in museum collections through “Profiled and Constellations,” Gonzales-Day challenges us to question whose stories are told—and whose are left out.
Bringing together more than 100 works, including rarely seen early pieces, this landmark exhibition reframes the visual record through the artist’s concept of “history’s nevermade”—events and images that never occurred, yet reveal the omissions and possibilities within our shared past.
Curated by Amelia Jones, Robert A. Day Professor in the USC Roski School of Art and Design, and presented at the @fishermuseum.
Today, we honor Juneteenth—commemorating freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.
Black history is American history—inseparable, undeniable, and essential. At the Fisher Museum, we recognize the creativity and legacy of Black artists whose work continues to shape the American cultural landscape.
#Juneteenth #BlackHistoryIsAmericanHistory #FisherMuseum #CelebrateFreedom #HonorTheLegacy
Happy Pride! 🌈
This striking illustration, “Gay Pride 1977”, honors the joy, resilience, and radical solidarity of the LGBTQ+ community. As we celebrate Pride Month, we reflect on the visionary activism that continues to shape a more inclusive and liberated future.
This work was recently featured in Sci-fi, Magick, Queer L.A., an exhibition housed at Fisher by @onearchivesusc at the USC Libraries, celebrating queer histories and futures through art.
#PrideMonth #FisherMuseum #ONEArchives #SciFiMagickQueerLA #LGBTQHistory #ArtAndActivism #HappyPride
Artist: Frederick Bennett Green
Title: Gay Pride 1977
Date Created: 1977
Credit Line: ONE Archives
🎉 The Roski Annual Student Exhibition is now open!
Congratulations to all the talented students whose incredible work is on view — your creativity and dedication shine through every piece. This juried exhibition showcases the diverse and dynamic voices of emerging artists and designers from the Roski School of Art and Design.
Come visit and experience the next generation of creative visionaries — and thank you to everyone who’s already stopped by to support!
#RoskiAnnual #USCFisherMuseum #StudentExhibition #EmergingArtists #USCRoski #ArtAtUSC
Enter the Realm of Sci-Fi Magick ✨
Step into a world where queerness, science fiction, and the occult collide in “Sci-Fi Magick: Queer L.A., Sexual Science, and the Imagi-Nation”! 🌌🔮 This mind-expanding exhibition explores how artists and thinkers have reimagined identity, desire, and the future through speculative storytelling and radical imagination.
Come explore the myths, symbols, and speculative worlds shaping the past, present, and beyond. 💫
#SciFiMagick #QueerLA #USCFisherMuseum #ArtBeyondReality #SpeculativeFutures
For our final #BlackHistoryMonth highlight, we celebrate Richard Mayhew—an artist whose expressive landscapes capture the spiritual and emotional essence of nature. His work transcends the physical, drawing from his Black and Indigenous heritage to explore themes of identity, history, and place. 🌿🖤
These two stunning lithographs, part of our permanent collection, showcase Mayhew’s signature atmospheric style, where shifting light and shadow evoke a dreamlike sense of movement.
#RichardMayhew #BlackArtists #ArtInOurCollection #BHM2025
Richard Mayhew (b. 1924 – d. 2024)
Trees graphics no. 207
undated
ed 22/89
black and white crayon lithograph
1992.7.116
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sherman
© Estate of Richard Mayhew
Richard Mayhew (b.1924 – d. 2024)
Trees graphics no. 201
undated
ed 75/84
black and white pen lithograph
1992.7.110
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sherman
© Estate of Richard Mayhew
From the late 1930s through the 1960s, tarot cards became more than divination tools—they were portals to cosmic exploration, embraced by both the occult and sci-fi communities. Artists fused ceremonial magick with rocket science, while sci-fi authors reimagined tarot as gateways to alternate dimensions.
“Sci-Fi, Magick, Queer L.A.: Sexual Science and the Imagi-Nation” delves into these mystical intersections—plus, don’t miss our stunning wall of tarot cards, where every detail tells a story of the unknown. 🔮✨🚀
#SciFiMagickQueerLA #USCFisherMuseum
As a part of our Black History Month series, we are proud to highlight the powerful and evocative works of artist Sam Goodsell, whose portraits capture the quiet strength and resilience of everyday moments.
Goodsell’s masterful use of pastels breathes life into his subjects, offering intimate glimpses into their stories and emotions. His figures—rooted in stillness yet filled with complexity—convey a deep sense of presence. From the contemplative figure seated against a glowing backdrop to the poised woman caught mid-step, each portrait invites us to pause and reflect on the dignity and humanity within these moments.
Sam Goodsell is known for his ability to fuse classical techniques with modern narratives, using rich textures and expressive colors to highlight the depth of his subjects. His work celebrates Black identity, offering nuanced portrayals that go beyond surface appearances to capture the inner life of each figure.
Sam Goodsell (b. 1966)
Tyrone
2008
Pastel on board
Museum Purchase
© Sam Goodsell
Photography credit: Brian Forrest
2011.07.02
Sam Goodsell (b. 1966)
Lost in Thought
2003
Pastel on board
Museum Purchase
© Sam Goodsell
Photography credit: Brian Forrest
2011.07.01
Sam Goodsell (b. 1966)
Andrea
2010
Pastel on board
Museum Purchase
© Sam Goodsell
Photography credit: Brian Forrest
2011.07.03
Join us for a special Curator Walkthrough! 🌟
Meet Alexis Bard Johnson, curator of "Sci-Fi, Magick, Queer L.A.: Sexual Science and the Imagi-Nation", as she walks us through the exhibition to explore the captivating LGBTQ+ history within the world of science fiction fandom and occult in Los Angeles from the late 1930s to the 1960s. Learn about the lives and work of the pioneering writers, publishers, artists, and early sci-fi enthusiasts who paved the way for the LGBTQ+ movement.
Free admission. Link in bio to sign up!
"Sci-Fi Magick: Queer L.A., Sexual Science, and the Imagi-Nation" has been captivating audiences—and now, new works are on view!
Experience the visionary worlds of artists like Jim Kepner, Lisa Ben, Margaret Brundage, Morris Scott Dollens, where speculative futures, queer histories, and mystical visions collide. Don’t miss this groundbreaking exhibition at Fisher before it’s gone for good! 🌌🔮
#SciFiMagick #USCFisherMuseum #QueerArt #LAExhibits
Celebrating Black History Month 🖤🔆
This February, we’re honoring the incredible Black artists in our permanent collection, starting with Carla Jay Harris and her Snake Bearers series.
Harris, a Los Angeles-based artist, creates deeply evocative works that explore mythology, identity, and the Black experience. Rooted in personal history and collective memory, her art reclaims narratives of strength, spirituality, and resilience. Through photography, collage, and mixed media, she constructs ethereal worlds where Black figures exist in empowered, sacred spaces—challenging historical erasure and celebrating cultural heritage. Snake Bearers is part of this ongoing visual storytelling, using symbolism to evoke transformation, protection, and ancestral connection.
Stay tuned as we continue highlighting the powerful voices in our collection this month! 🖤🎨
#BlackHistoryMonth #CarlaJayHarris #USCMuseums #artthatempowers
Carla Jay Harris (b. 1987)
Snake Bearers I – VI
2018
Ed. 2/5
Archival pigment print
Museum Purchase
© Carla Jay Harris
🎨 Calling all environmentally conscious student artists!
The Arts & Climate Collective is looking for student artists to design murals for the Earth Month Festival and USC Sustainability Hub at the Student Union. Submit your design by February 2, and receive up to $250 per mural for materials.
For more details, head over to @artsclimatecollective`s bio!
Meet Alexis Bard Johnson, curator of "Sci-Fi, Magick, Queer L.A.: Sexual Science and the Imagi-Nation!"
Join her on Thursday, January 30 as she guides us through this fascinating exhibition, diving into LGBTQ+ history in science fiction fandom and occult culture in Los Angeles (1930s–1960s). Discover the groundbreaking writers, artists, and enthusiasts who helped shape the LGBTQ+ movement. 🌟📖
👉 Learn more and RSVP through the link in bio! #QueerHistory #SciFi #LGBTQ
Grief and hope unite the Los Angeles arts community in response to the devastating fires affecting our city. As part of this community, USC Museums stands in support of two vital initiatives providing emergency relief to artists and arts workers:
💛 Los Angeles Artist and Cultural Worker Fire Relief Fund
Organized by local volunteers, this grassroots fundraiser aims to raise $500,000 to assist artists and cultural workers who have suffered total or severe losses. Mutual aid efforts are also being coordinated to meet the urgent needs of our community.
💛 LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund
Led by Getty and a coalition of major arts organizations, this fund offers aid to artists and arts workers who have lost homes, studios, archives, or livelihoods. Your fully tax-deductible gift directly supports those impacted and helps sustain LA’s vibrant creative economy.
For more information and ways to help, visit the links in @fishermuseum bio. Together, we can rebuild and support the creative heart of Los Angeles.
#SupportLAArtists #CommunityCare #LAFireRelief
Introducing the first piece in our series, #ThreadsofLA. 🌆 This week, we highlight "Vicente", a large-scale oil painting by Los Angeles-based artist Javier Carrillo.
This artwork speaks to the unseen strength and endurance woven into the lives of many Angelenos, a poignant reminder of the resilience that defines our city.
Carrillo captures a moment of respite for a balloon vendor, his tired expression and posture telling a story of perseverance. The artist reflects, "I tried to show how tired his face is from walking miles all day… His shoulders weren’t even, after carrying [the pole] for years. It was striking."
#ThreadsOfLA #LAPerseveres #resilientcity
Title: Vicente
Creator: Javier Carrillo (United States, b. 1985, Mexico)
Date Created: 2017
**The load we carry is heavy.**
Mexican artist Selma Guisande’s works offer a poignant exploration of the body as a metaphor for how we navigate an increasingly fragile and fractured society.
In times of uncertainty and fear about what lies ahead, the themes in her work—fragile connections, the search for self, and the struggle to find our place in a broken world—feel especially resonant. Her work speaks to the shared anxieties and hopes of a world on the edge of transformation.
Her sculptures, composed of human and figural elements delicately connected by fragile hemp string, create a visual map that captures the tension between our yearning for connection and our drive for individuality.
Selma Guisande, *Las Partes del Todo*, ceramic, Museum Purchase, © Selma Guisande. #uscfishermuseum #mexicanartist #ceramic #5womenartists #mentalhealth #anxietyrelief #artistsoninstagram #mexicanart #feminismo
✨ Cameron (born Marjorie Cameron, 1922-1995) was a visionary occult artist and poet. 🖤 As the widow of Jack Parsons, she delved into Thelema and ritual magick. Known for her witch-like appearance, she captivated audiences in films like Kenneth Anger’s Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome (1954-66), Curtis Harrington’s The Wormwood Star (1956), and Night Tide (1961). 🎥 Despite rarely exhibiting her art and losing many pieces to ritual fires, a retrospective of her work was held in Los Angeles in 2014, showcasing her lasting influence. 🔮 #Cameron #OccultArt #thelema
Image (left): Cameron, Holy Guardian Angel According to Aleister Crowley, 1966. Caesin and gold lacquer on board. Cameron Parsons Foundation, Santa Monica.
Image (right): Cameron, East Angel, Undated. Graphite, ink and gold paint on paper. Cameron Parsons Foundation, Santa Monica.
#fisheractivate
New Fisher artist acquisition! Guess who in the comments. Here is a hint: her art is what happens when a comic book, a feminist manifesto, and a mythological fever dream all collide. #artist #museum #contemporaryart #feminist
Morris Scott Dollens (1920-1994) was a visionary American artist and science fiction illustrator. From launching his own fanzine at just 16 to creating cosmic landscapes and astronomical paintings, Dollens` work captured the imagination of sci-fi enthusiasts.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1942, he became a key figure in the city`s science fiction scene, with his art showcased at conventions and widely circulated by mail. His lesser-known private photography practice, preserved in the Eaton Collection at UC Riverside, adds yet another fascinating layer to his creative legacy.
Image (left): Morris Scott Dollens, The Forest and the Far Land, undated. Photomontage. ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, Los Angeles.
Image (right): Morris Scott Dollens, “Astronomical Art,” c. 1940-1950s
#fisheractivate
Margaret Brundage (1900-1976), famously known as the "Queen of the Pulps," was a prolific artist whose work dominated the covers of Weird Tales from 1933-38. Her illustrations, often based on pin-up photography, featured erotic and provocative depictions of women that both scandalized and mesmerized readers. Her unique style became a defining feature of the magazine, cementing her legacy in sci-fi and fantasy art.
Be sure to explore more of Brundage’s trailblazing work at our exhibit "Sci-Fi, Magick, Queer L.A.: Sexual Science and the Imagi-Nation"!
#fisheractivate
♎✨ It’s Libra season, and we’re celebrating artist Renate Druks, an artist whose balanced, harmonious art is featured in “Sci-fi Magick!” 🌟
Austrian-American painter Renate Druks (1921-2007) infused her works with mysticism and magic, exploring themes like Thelema. She performed as Lilith in Kenneth Anger’s “Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome” and was a close friend of writer Anaïs Nin, with her art featured in Nin’s “Portrait in Three Dimensions.” Fun fact: Druks also illustrated the cover for the “Forbidden Planet” soundtrack!
Come check out her work in person, closing next month!
#libraseason #queerart #scifi #losangeles #fisheractivate
Swipe through to get to know artist Carlos Almaraz, whose many vibrant works are proudly housed at the Fisher Museum. 🌈#fisheractivate
Meet Scene Shift artist Abigail DeVille next Friday at Fisher!
Born in 1981 in New York, DeVille is deeply committed to highlighting marginalized communities and forgotten places through her site-specific immersive installations. Using materials sourced from the exhibition sites, she transforms discarded objects into treasures, echoing the phrase “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” Her work, rooted in personal and political ties to New York spanning generations, includes notable pieces like a sculpture erected on a former African American burial ground in Harlem, showcasing her dedication to bringing attention to overlooked narratives.
The artist will activate her piece Blur Horizon into a live performance upon exiting the museum next Friday. Link in our bio to RSVP.
This program is co-sponsored by the USC Roski School of Art and Design and USC Visions and Voices.
USC Fisher Museum of Art is proud to present "Margaret Lazzari: The Cancer Series," on view from March 8 – May 10, 2024.
Created between 2003 and 2004, Margaret Lazzari: The Cancer Series documents the physical and psychological fallout—and recovery—of the artist’s experience with breast cancer. Consisting of over thirty paintings, drawings, and videos, these works are an intimate and emotional look at the link between our bodies and our sense of self; the trauma experienced when this connection is altered; and the steps taken to reestablish this connection. Lazzari’s work maps the extreme emotions and energy swings that accompany such moments of irrevocable change.
The exhibition is curated by Danielle Sommer, Assistant Curator, USC Fisher Museum of Art.
Image: Margaret Lazzari, Scream, 2004
Continuing on with our Latinx Heritage Month Collection Highlights!
Christina Fernandez is a Mexican American photographer. Based in Los Angeles, her artistic creations delve into the realms of social and political commentary. Her Mexican heritage and a strong sense of social consciousness frequently serve as influential elements in her photography and collage work. These mediums provide her with a platform to explore themes encompassing space, migration, immigration, labor, gender, and her personal connection to the city of Los Angeles.
"María`s Great Expedition" (shown here), is a project that intricately weaves together María Fernandez`s own family history with the broader context of American history through reenactment. Through a series of photographs, Fernandez reimagines the narrative of her great-grandmother, a single mother who embarked on a journey from Mexico to Southern California.
Title: 1919, Portland Colorado from Maria`s Great Expedition
Creator: Christina Fernandez (b. 1965)
Date Created: 1995/1996
Physical Location: USC Fisher Museum of Art, Los Angeles, Purchase Fund, Museum Studies Program Class of 2004, 2002.06
Rights: © Christina Fernandez, Image reproduced with permission of the artist. Photography by John Elder.
Medium: Sepia toned gelatin print
Image 2: Christina Fernandez, Self-portrait, 2019, Courtesy of the artist © Christina Fernandez
Who is Narcisa Hirsch?
Narcisa Hirsch, (born, 1928) is a prominent figure in Argentine experimental filmmaking, is renowned for her oeuvre which revolves around themes encompassing the human body, love, sexuality, mortality, motion, and the perspective of the female gaze.
She began as a painter, and but her later and better known work centers on performance and film, though she has also written several books. She cites Salvador Dalí and Luis Buñuel as influences to her experimental film work, as well as the Bauhaus artists of Germany.
"Narcisa Hirsch: In Relation" is on view at Fisher from October 6 through December 9, 2023.
Image Credit: Documenta Madrid
To launch our Latinx Heritage Month spotlight, we begin with Daniel Guzmán, an artist hailing from Mexico City. Daniel Guzmán belongs to the cohort of Mexican artists whose innovative and conceptual approach to art initially captivated the global art community during the 1990s.
His distinctive artistic signature revolves around stylized, cartoonish imagery and text crafted using ink on both paper and walls. Guzmán`s creations are rich tapestries of references, encompassing lyrics and song titles from renowned rock bands like Kiss and AC/DC, as well as literary influences from the likes of William Burroughs and Chilean writer Roberto Bolaño.
Title: Pecado Santiago Apóstol
Creator: Daniel Guzmán (Mexican, b. 1964)
Date Created: 2011
Physical Location: USC Fisher Museum of Art, Los Angeles, Museum Purchase, 2012.02
Physical Dimensions: 22.9 x 30.5 cm (9 x 12 in.)
Rights: Photography by Centro Cultural La Curtiduría
Medium: Ink on cardboard
Image Credit 2: Pável Jurado
Who is Kara Walker?
A leading artist of her generation, Kara Walker (b. 1969) works in a range of mediums, including prints, drawings, paintings, sculpture, film, and the large-scale silhouette cutouts for which she is perhaps most recognized.
In 1997, at the age of 28, Walker was awarded a MacArthur fellowship, becoming one of the youngest ever recipients of the award. A California native, she is regarded as one of the most prominent and acclaimed Black American artists working today.
"Kara Walker: Cut to the Quick" will be on view at Fisher from September 8 through December 9, 2023.
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Last but certainly not least in our Pride Month series is Carlos Almaraz.
Carlos Almaraz was a Mexican-American artist and a pioneer of the Chicano art movement. In 1973, he was one of four artists who formed the influential artist collective known as Los Four. Almaraz was public about being queer, and it was documented in his journals.
Almaraz was the subject of documentary, Carlos Almaraz: Playing With Fire (2020), which was directed by his widow and fellow artist Elsa Flores Almaraz, and actor and filmmaker Richard Montoya.
Los Angeles native, Tony de Carlo, was a self-taught artist whose work was inspired by “the mixing of culture and people.”
His paintings depicted what he knew best, and what surrounded him in his daily life, often painting his friends, fellow LGBT community members, and men. Many of his paintings represent the life and culture of homosexual people. He also depicts the dark aspects of homosexuality including their pain, suffering and death.
Source: almalopez.com
Title: Untitled (Head), 1995
Creator: Tony de Carlo (American, 1956-2014)
Physical Location: USC Fisher Museum of Art, Los Angeles California, The Dr. Eugene Rogolsky Collection, 2015.13
Rights: Photography by Madelyne Gordon
Next up on our Pride Month Permanent Collection features Miguel Angel Reyes.
Reyes was born in Colima, Mexico in 1964, and immigrated with his family to the United States in 1975. Today, the gay, Los Angeles-based artist is known as a portrait and figurative painter but is also a printmaker, muralist, and illustrator. In this untitled portrait, Reyes imbues his subject with a fierce spirit that is revelatory of his experience in the fashion industry.
Title: Untitled (Profile), 1993
Creator: Miguel Angel Reyes (United States, b. 1964, Mexico)
Physical Location: USC Fisher Museum of Art, Los Angeles California, The Dr. Eugene Rogolsky Collection, 2015.13
Rights: © Miguel Angel Reyes, Photography by Madelyne Gordon
Happy Pride Month from Fisher! 🏳️🌈
"At Home with the Nortes" is a photograph from our permanent collection by Laura Aguliar. A Native-Angeleno, Aguilar was a self-taught photographer who addressed personal issues as well as the social invisibility of minority communities from her perspective as a large-bodied Lesbian-Latina.
Stay tuned for more features of LGBTQIA+ artists!
Title: At Home with the Nortes
Creator: Laura Aguliar (American, 1959 – 2018)
Date Created: 1990
Physical Location: USC Fisher Museum of Art, Los Angeles California, The Dr. Eugene Rogolsky Collection, 2015.13
Physical Dimensions: 36.2 x 48.9 cm (14 1/4 x 19 1/4 in.)
Subject Keywords: Photography, Family, Black and white
Rights: © Laura Aguilar Trust of 2016, Photography by Madelyne Gordon
Medium: Gelatin Silver Print
Permanent Collection Highlight!
California-born artist Robert Glen Ginder is most well-known for his gold-leafed triptych works representing common objects such as still lifes or Southern Californian stucco homes. His golden backgrounds adorn subject matters with gold and turn them into modern icons.
Title: Fruit Stand
Creator: Robert Glen Ginder (American, b. 1948)
Date Created: 1986
Physical Location: USC Fisher Museum of Art, Los Angeles, Gift of Barney Rosenzweig, 1999.02
Physical Dimensions: 121.3 x 159.4 cm (47 3/4 x 62 3/4 in.)
Rights: © Robert Glen Ginder, Image reproduced with permission of the artist. Photography by John Elder.
Medium: Oil and gold leaf on wood panel, Wood Panel, Oil Paint
Zoom in to see every detail of our permanent collection piece by artist Jesús Lugo, titled "Ciudad Pl."
Lugo`s imagery is a combination of social realism, pop culture, and Japanese printmaking.
Title: Ciudad Pl, 2009
Jesús Lugo (Mexican, b. 1963)
Rights: Photography by Brian Forrest, © 2009 Jesus Lugo
Medium: Oil on canvas
Permanent Collection Highlight:
"Dancing Figures" by Carlos D. Almaraz
Almaraz, born in Mexico City, Mexico, was an artist and a pioneer of the Chicano art movement in the United States.
Image Credit:
Dancing Figures
Carlos Almaraz (Mexican American, 1941 – 1989)
1984
USC Fisher Museum of Art, Los Angeles, The Dr. Eugene Rogolsky Collection, 2015.13
152.4 x 127 cm (60 x 50 in.) (canvas)
USC Fisher Museum of Art is proud to announce Mulyana: Modular Utopia, the Indonesian artist’s first solo museum exhibition in Los Angeles.
The exhibition is an introduction to Mulyana’s large kinetic environments composed of intricately constructed, knit modules of marine life sculptures that vividly portray an unadulterated underwater world. Through the beauty and wonder of his artworks, Mulyana hopes to instill a new consciousness of shared responsibility to protect the environment.
Mulyana’s diverse art practice centers on the themes of sustainability and human flourishing. His studio is based in the town of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, which has been the cultural capital for the visual arts in Indonesia for many decades.
#mulyana #underwaterart #visualarts
A big congratulations to Fisher alumni Senga Nengudi for being the recipient of the 2023 Nasher Prize!
Senga Nengudi is one of the seminal conceptual and performance artists of our time. Educated in Los Angeles in the 1960s, Nengudi left L.A. to study art in New York and Tokyo decades ago. She returned to Los Angeles, to major acclaim, with Senga Nengudi: Improvisational Gestures, a comprehensive exhibition at USC Fisher Museum of Art in 2018.
Image 1: Aruna D’Souza, The New York Times
Image 2: Installation photography courtesy of Juan Rojas.
Image 3: Installation photography courtesy of Juan Rojas.
Image 4: Installation photography courtesy of Selin Camli.
"Art is a guarantee of sanity." –
Louise Bourgeois.
We are pleased to announce our upcoming exhibition this fall at the USC Fisher Museum of Art: "Louise Bourgeois: What is the Shape of This Problem? From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation.”
Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010) is one of the most renowned and influential artists of the 20th Century. Although best known for her profound sculptures of monumental spiders, evocative human figures, and fleshly anthropomorphic forms, Bourgeois maintained a prolific drawing and writing practice and an ongoing interest in illustrated books and printmaking throughout the course of her long career. The exhibition "Louise Bourgeois: What is the Shape of This Problem? From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation," presents 145 works with a focus on prints, textiles, & a series of eight holograms, ranging in date from the 1940s to the early 2000s.
Opens September 6, 2022.
Image credit:
Louise Bourgeois with her sculptures, QUARANTANIA III and BROTHER & SISTER, in NYC in 1979.
© The Easton Foundation/Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY, Photo: Eeva Inkeri
Upcoming Events
Visit Us
Visit us today. See our hours, tour info, and address below. Admission to the Museum is always FREE.
Hours and Tours
Tuesday – Friday 10AM – 4PM
The Museum will also be open on Saturday March 14 – 10am – 4pm
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience, please submit your group visit request form at least 3 weeks prior to your desired visit date at the link below:
For K-12 school visits, contact Lonnie Goodwin, School Programs and Education Coordinator at [email protected].
Address and Contact Info
University of Southern California University Park Campus
823 Exposition Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Frequently Asked Questions
STUDENTS WITH USC MUSEUMS
Whether you are an art enthusiast or simply curious about the world of art, SUM provides everyone an opportunity to discuss, learn, and develop their skills and knowledge on all things museums and art.
Our members have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the prestigious USC Fisher Museum of Art and the USC Pacific Asia Museum. With chances to connect with museum staff and participate in unprecedented experiences, our organization provides a vibrant community for students to expand their passion for all things artistic.
Contact
University of Southern California
University Park Campus
823 Exposition Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90089
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Our favorite time of the year! The annual student @uscroski exhibition is officially open! Come on by the Fisher Museum of Art and check it out.
May 6
Final Day of Ken Gonzales-Day: History`s "Nevermade" curated by Amelia Jones.
The USC Fisher Museum of Art will be open on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 10 am to 4pm, for one last opportunity to explore the exhibition.
Join us at 1:00 pm for a special closing talk on the complex history of museum collections and their role in shaping narratives around race and identity, followed by light refreshments.
Closing Day Schedule:
🗓 Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026
🕒 Extended Hours: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
🎤 Talk: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
🎟 Admission is FREE
Link in bio or at fisher.usc.edu/events for more information.
Mar 12
Meet the Examining Truth & History speakers! Tatiana Flores, Ken Gonzales-Day, Luke Fidler, and moderator Amelia Jones will delve into the complex history of museum collections and the role cultural institutions play in shaping the narratives around race and identity in the United States and Europe.
Together, they will unpack how historical narratives are constructed, who gets to tell them, and how we might envision more honest and equitable approaches to representing the past.
Don’t miss the chance to hear from them live.
🗓 Saturday, March 14, 2026
🕐 1:00 pm – 2:30 PM
📍USC Fisher Museum of Art
🎟 FREE
RSVP: link in bio or at FISHER.USC.EDU/EVENTS
Mar 8
And that’s a wrap on F.R.O. Fest 2026 🎬✨
There`s nothing like seeing USC student`s films light up on the big screen. Huge thanks to everyone who came out to support the next generation of USC filmmakers and hear them talk about their work.
Make sure to follow these talented filmmakers 👇
Lauryn Bedford (@lauryn.bedford ) — Clucky`s
Zaria Calhum (@@zariacalhum ) — The Interview
Dominique R. Draper (@draperboymedia ) — The Day You Find Your Name
Jay Pendarvis Jr (@jaypendarvisjr ) — See You, Soon
Tatiola Sabomehim (@tatioladenise ) — I Was An Egg Once
And of course, endless gratitude to our amazing partners, CBCSA (@usc_cbcsa) and AACS (@uscaacs ), for helping make this night unforgettable.
☝Swipe through for some of the moments that made the evening so special.
Photos by Jackson Brathwaite 📸 #frofest2026
Mar 5
Join us on Saturday, March 14, at 1pm for a powerful discussion on the complex history of museum collections and their role in shaping narratives around race and identity.
In conversation with Ken Gonzales-Day (@kengonzalesday), artist, educator, and scholar; Luke Fidler, Assistant Professor of Art History at USC, and Tatiana Flores(@tatigrams), Jefferson Scholars Foundation Edgar Shannon Distinguished Professor of Art History at the University of Virginia. Moderated by Amelia Jones (@amelia.jones.la1987), Robert A. Day Professor at the Roski School of Art & Design and curator of Ken Gonzales- Day: History`s “Nevermade.”
Following the discussion, guests are invited to stay for light refreshments and view the final day of Ken Gonzales- Day: History`s “Nevermade.”
🗓 Saturday, March 14, 2026
🕐 1:00 pm – 2:30 PM
📍USC Fisher Museum of Art| 823 W Exposition Blvd. LA CA 90089
RSVP: Link in bio or at fisher.edu/events
Mar 3
📣We`re Open Late This FRIDAY!
Friday, 2/27, we`re staying open until 9 pm, so you can have extra time to explore our current exhibition, Ken Gonzales- Day: History`s “Nevermade.”
At 7:00 PM, join us for Films Reflection Ourselves (F.R.O. FEST), a film screening event, featuring powerful films by USC students. The evening will include a Q&A and mixer at USC Fisher Museum (Harris Hall, 101). LINK IN BIO
#usc #thingstodoinla #freizeweekla #uscevents
Feb 26
✨ Films Reflecting Ourselves (F.R.O. FEST) is BACK! ✨
Our annual, highly anticipated celebration of bold storytelling is finally here! Join us this Friday, February 27th, as we spotlight the next wave of future filmmakers. 🎞️
Meet the filmmakers: 🎬
Lauryn Bedford (@lauryn.bedford )— Clucky’s
Zaria Calhum (@zariacalhum )— The Interview
Dominique R. Draper (@draperboymedia )— The Day You Find Your Name (@findingafeni )
Jay Pendarvis Jr. (@jaypendarvisjr ) — See You, Soon (@seeyousoon.film )
Tatiola Sobomehin (@tatioladenise )— I Was An Egg Once
Come experience an evening of storytelling, reflection, community, and meaningful conversation. Did we mention, there will be food + good vibes.
🎟️ RSVP Link in bio.
🗓️ Friday, February 27, 2026
⏰ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 USC Fisher Museum, HAR 101
Don’t miss it. See you there. 💫
#FROFEST #FilmsReflectingOurselves #filmfestival #usc
Feb 24
If you are in town for Frieze Los Angeles or looking to spend time with meaningful and thought-provoking art, the USC Fisher Museum of Art will be open from Tuesday through Friday (2/24-2/27) from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Join us for our current exhibition, Ken Gonzales-Day: History`s "Nevermade" curated by Amelia Jones, Robert Day Professor at the USC Roski School of Art & Design. The exhibit brings together over 100 works spanning photography, drawing, painting, video, and research-based practice. Gonzales-Day’s work examines cultural memory, race, and place in the United States.
We are also pleased to share that Ken Gonzales-Day will lead a special exhibition walkthrough on Tuesday, 2/24. A wonderful opportunity to hear directly from the artist about their process and research behind the work. RSVP LINK IN BIO
📍 Visit us during Frieze Week
🗓 February 24th – February 27th from 10 AM to 4 PM.
🎟 Open to all; FREE
#friezeweekla #friezelosangeles
Feb 23
Just in case you missed it, USC Fisher Museum of Art is proud to team up with the Getty (@gettymuseum ) and LACMA (@lacma ) to celebrate the incredible legacy of architect Paul R. Williams, the first Black architect licensed west of the Mississippi, the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects nationwide, the first Black architect to be awarded the IAI’s highest honor, and a trailblazer whose work helped shape Los Angeles.
From August 2026 through July 2027, USC Fisher Museum of Art, Getty, and LACMA will present a coordinated series of exhibitions showcasing Williams’s groundbreaking designs and influence.
Paul R. Williams: An Architect Considered
USC Fisher Museum of Art
Aug. 18, 2026-March 13, 2027
Organized by the USC School of Architecture (@uscarchitecture )and the USC Fisher Museum of Art, this exhibition examines Paul R. Williams’ significant contribution to modern multifamily housing. It features original archival drawings alongside new works by contemporary artists and architects, highlighting 35 housing projects from Williams’ 60-year career and his dedication to creating dignified, innovative housing during a period of rapid urban growth. Seven new commissions by Edgar Arceneaux (@edgar_three ); Current Interests (Matthew Au and Mira Henry)(@current_____interests ); enFOLD Collective (Dana McKinney White and Megan Echols) (@enfoldcollective ); Darell W. Fields; David Hartt (@david_hartt ); Cory Henry (@ateliercoryhenry );and Amanda Williams (@awstudioart );offers fresh perspective on Williams’ lasting influences on architecture and housing today.
Guest curators: Valery Augustin (@augustin.valery ), Milton S. F. Curry and Amy Murphy(@amy_murphy143 ).
Significant funding has been provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation(@mellonfoundation ).
Tap the link in our bio to read the full article.
#PaulRWilliams #USC #LACMA #gettymuseum #GettyResearchInstitute
Feb 19
Huge thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for the curator walkthrough of Ken Gonzales-Day: History’s “Nevermade.” A special shoutout to Amelia G Jones (@amelia.jones.la1987) for curating a powerful exhibition and for bringing so much depth and insight to Ken Gonzales-Day’s work.
Feb 6
