Talk: 'Educators on Exhibitions: Portraits' with SCAD photography chair Michael James O’Brien

Join the SCAD Museum of Art and SCAD chair of photography Michael James O’Brien for Educators on Exhibitions, a series that illuminates academic perspectives on current SCAD MOA shows. As an artist and activist, O’Brien has photographed faces as varied as Keanu Reeves, Allen Ginsberg, and Amanda Lepore; documented drag artists of the 1980s downtown New York club scene; and used portraiture as a means to explore identity and persona. At this talk, O’Brien offers his unique point of view on the exhibition Zanele Muholi, which features portraits from the South African artist’s oeuvre that challenge gender stereotypes and emphasize the need for visibility for marginalized communities. 

O’Brien, who has similarly used his craft to platform LGBTQIA+ communities, will share insights and stories from his more than 40-year career capturing the essence of his sitters, while speaking on his photographic kinship with Muholi’s work. After O’Brien’s talk, SCAD Museum of Art curator Ben Tollefson will offer additional reflections on a guided tour of the exhibition, followed by an optional — but encouraged — 30-minute workshop on the art of the portrait. 

About 'Educators on Exhibitions'
The series Educators on Exhibitions invites scholastic dialogue on SCAD Museum of Art shows through the expertise of SCAD faculty members from myriad disciplines. In talks, tours, and workshops, the series extends the classroom to the transformative atmosphere of the museum’s galleries, fostering deeper connections to contemporary artists and designers. 

This event is free and open to the public.