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Keith Allen Haring (May 4, 1958 – February 16, 1990) was an American artist whose pop art emerged from the New York City graffiti subculture of the 1980s.[1] His animated imagery has "become a widely recognized visual language".[2] Much of his work includes sexual allusions that turned into social activism by using the images to advocate for safe sex and AIDS awareness.

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This mural is located in the SF MOMA and is called Our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams by Elaine Chu and Marina Perez Wong. These locally based artists were able to capture a handful of of messages that exemplifies deeper meaning. It includes a message that is based on what is happening in our current and past, and how there is a way to grow from it. We have to give dedication to our ancestors in which we have to try, enjoy, make up, and experience a life that we should be thankful for right now. It is represented that this piece depicts resiliency and growth from past traumas and the current stage of living. These two artists work together and are also known as the Twin Mural Company, and is one of the five art pieces in which local artists’ joined in on doing in response to COVID and past trauma.

Source: https://www.sfmoma.org/press-release/sfmoma-commissions-local-artists-to-create-large-scale-wall-projects/v

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SFMOMA Commissions Local Artists to Create Large-Scale Wall Projects

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The Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge painting by Claude Monet was published during the Impressionism era, taking place in the later part of the 1800s in France. The impressionist art movement was huge on taking in and finding the beauty within the natural and everyday surroundings. Claude Monet was an essential figure who largely contributed to Impressionism. What made this style of art unique was the technique artists used to capture their surroundings, such as using much shorter and looser brushstrokes leaving an incomplete feeling, along with bolder colors to portray the different light and shadowing.

Source:

https://www.sothebys.com/en/art-movements/impressionism#:~:text=What%20is%20Impressionism%3F,accurate%20depiction%20of%20natural%20light.

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Sergei Rachmaninoff (April 1, 1873 - March 28, 1943) was one of the most well-known composers and pianists in classical music. One of his most famous pieces of artwork is called Symphony No. 2 III Adagio. Composed in 1907, Rachmaninoff’s symphony is popular for its emotional depth and expressive melodies. The third movement specifically, the Adagio, is often considered the core of the symphony, creating a feeling of both longing and beauty, allowing each note to unfold with tenderness and expression. It captures the essence of music itself - an art form that moves beyond words and reaches deep into the heart. Many of Rachmaninoff's other works features a sense of motion and dramatic passion, often with the orchestra moving with the piano. Rachmaninoff's art pieces was his way of reflecting his emotions, experiences, and life, sharing it to his audiences and the rest of history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfgrXm1t69c

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Sabrina Claudio (September 19, 1996- present) is an American R&B artist. Known for her sultry sound and vulnerable lyric style, Sabrina evokes a dream like atmosphere. The acoustic version of her song, “Nurture”, is a highlight of her 6th album released in 2023, “Archives & Lullabies”, an album filled with sensual storytelling and love like melodies. Sabrina’s music is acknowledged for its raw and soulful emotion, often telling an unapologetically sensitive and real narrative. Her song, “Nurture”, is known for its soft and warm style of desiring to care for someone. As an artist, Sabrina highlights the importance of being true to one’s self and feelings through all stages in life.

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These earrings were designed by Filipino artisans specializing in jewelry making called plateros for a women-owned design company based in Manila, Philippines. Its components are gold-plated silver and fresh water pearls. The plateros utilize the art of gold filigree which is melting gold or silver and hammering then cooling repeatedly until they are fine threads which are then used to form lace like patterns. [1] The style and design of the ornamental gold pieces are reminiscent of pre-colonial gold jewelry found in the Philippines. The organic smoothness of the fresh water pearls, although appearing contrasting, still allow the jewelry to feel like a cohesive piece. Together, the different components act as a symbol of the integration of old traditions with modern culture.

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This tropical painting is called Hibiscus with Plumeria, created by Georgia O’Keefe. This piece was painted in 1939, set on the island of Oahu. O’Keefe was intrigued by the opportunity to paint tropical flora and accepted an offer from the Dole Pineapple Company for an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii to create paintings for their advertising campaign. During her travels, she fell in love with the traditions of receiving flower leis as a welcoming gift, which inspired her beautiful art of island flowers.The painting features a pink hibiscus flower with delicate petals that unfold against a blue sky. Next to the hibiscus, a plumeria flower is depicted with soft white and yellow petals, offering a striking contrast to the vibrant pink. The bright, saturated colors capture the essence of a tropical and warm island. O’Keefe’s magnificent brushwork brings the flowers to life, emphasizing the natural textures of the blooms.

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Birth of Venus, ~1480, Sandro Botticelli

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This painting depicts Venus, also known as Aphrodite, emerging from the sea. She was ‘born’ fully grown. Comes from a myth from Greek and Roman Mythology, trying to emulate ancient painters.

It’s a very large painting, more than five and a half feet tall and more than 9 feet wide. Its colors are muted, but mostly due to aging. They would have been very bright at the time of painting. It has a lot of detail, using very small brushstrokes.

I discovered it online, as it’s very popular, but I really connected with seeing it in person. I’ve always been a fan of Greek and Roman myth, and Aphrodite is one of my favorite figures.

As an artist, one of my favorite styles is classical oil and tempera paintings. I’ve tried to emulate it before in some of my own drawings, as I’ve always looked up to the level of detail they include.

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Mark Rothko created this artwork. The painting is titled No.14, 1960, and it displays Rothko's prompting of artwork to Abstract Expressionism. Mark Rothko demonstrated his work of Abstract Expressionism using Colour Field Painting, where he used large canvases to paint /produce 2-3 rectangles of different colors. After World War II, a lot of artists didn't know how to display art the same way after the horrors of the war. In this, Rothko wanted us/ the viewers, to take his work and use our own interpretations to experience his painting both physically and emotionally. This painting displays a purple, almost brown background, where a large red, nearly orange rectangle is painted on the top of the canvas. There is also a dark blue rectangle painted below the red rectangle, about half its size. Both rectangles contain imperfections. They have no straight lines or edges and do not appear fully saturated, where you can see the purple background if you look at the painting longer than at first glance.

Sources:

Rothko, Mark. “Mark Rothko, No. 14, 1960, 1960 · SFMOMA.” SFMOMA, https://www.sfmoma.org/artwork/97.524/. Accessed 26 January 2025.

Wolfe, Shira. “Art Movement: Abstract Expressionism.” Artland Magazine, https://magazine.artland.com/abstract-expressionism/. Accessed 26 January 2025.

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Henri Matisse's, "Luxe, calme et volupté" 

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Henri Matisse's, "Luxe, calme et volupté" 

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Henri Matisse, a famous French painter in the early 1900s, made this painting in Saint-Tropez (the south of France) while vacationing with family and friends. He created the characters in the painting with repeating dots of color applied with meticulous brushstrokes. He built up the dots to build recognizable forms. Matisse preferred smaller strokes of color that emphasized the painted surface over the more naturalistic depiction of a setting. This is recognizable across many of his works of art. He also used a palette of high-toned primary colors to create his landscape and outlined the figures in blue to allow them to separate from the background. The painting’s title comes from a line by the poet Charles Baudelaire. He chose this particular line as it shares the same qualities as the poem’s subject: escape to an imaginary refuge. The balance and serenity he strove for in this early painting remained constant in his work for the rest of his career. Matisse was also very specific in the specific color palettes he chose for his paintings. He explored monochrome, primary, and secondary palettes, as well as mixing and matching tones in order to create dimension and fluidity. I find similar inspirations when creating my artwork. Matisse’s use of color has always inspired me as someone who makes many works with bright color palettes. His pieces have also motivated me to explore the intersection of abstraction and portraiture.

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"Group IV, The Ten Largest, No. 7, Adulthood" by Hilma af Klint

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"Group IV, The Ten Largest, No. 7, Adulthood" by Hilma af Klint

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Hilma af Klint (1862-1944) was a Swedish abstract artist who displayed revolutionary artistic visions which were ahead of its time. Her interest in the spiritual world was heavily employed in her art. In 1907, Klint received visions from the spirits with regards to "ten paradisaically beautiful paintings." These visions were then executed through "The Ten Largest" which are a series of artworks created within a 40-day period.

The series contains themes of spirituality, specifically the connection between the spirit and the human mind. Its main themes revolve around human evolution across four stages: childhood, youth, adulthood and old age. Botanical references, such as the floral patterns in the painting above, indicate the connection between humanity and the natural world. No. 7 is the artist's depiction of adulthood in full bloom, as seen in the yellow centerpiece representing a flower bulb. This is accompanied by meditative patterns of concentric circles, curves, and botanical forms.

It's important to engage in the act of trying to understand the works of artists such as Hilma. Despite its abstract nature, her background explains in detail the depth and purpose of her works. Despite Klint being a 20th century artist, her work depicts 21st century and contemporary visions. Her pursuit of creating art that transcends the tangible is heavily sought after until now.

In Frieze Magazine, Anya Ventura (2018) states "Why does af Klint speak to us in the present? Perhaps because she represents values – female, spiritual, ecological, collectivist – eroded by the rise of industrial modernity, values we desperately need to reclaim."

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I:

Title: The Swing (Les hasards heureux de l’escarpolette).

Period: XVII century, Rococo style

Purpose: incarnate the exquisite taste, pleasure, and frivolity of the French aristocracy before the revolution.

Meaning: it represents love, flirting, and sensuality in a playful way, highlighting the social dynamics of the time.

II:

Colors: predominates the pastel tones especially the pink color of the dress used by the main character, the green and blue creating an ethereal and dreamy atmosphere.

Forms: lines, curves, and variated forms, typical inside rococo that provide dynamism inside the scene.

Textures: the delicate of the dress, the floral details, and the grandiosity of the forest generate a contrast.

Sounds: you can imagine the crunch of the dry leaves, the sound of the wind hitting the trees, and maybe the delicate playful laughing coming from the girl.

III: Personal connection

It connects to me because of its romantic atmosphere and the way which is connects nature with human theatrical behavior. As a fine arts student, it inspires me how Fragonard can communicate an emotion through exuberant details and composition.

Personal reflection:

This work talks to me about the legerity of the happiest moments, but also the passing of time. It reflects my interest in exploring themes of pleasure and contradiction inside my art, where the delicate is connected with the deepness.

Sara Cadavid

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In Alexander Runciman's 1774 etching Perseus and the Sleeping Medusa, he combines artistic expression with storytelling. The artist stayed away from the usual portrayal of Medusa’s severed head as a hero’s trophy, focusing instead on her vulnerability just before death. The piece showcases bold and classical lines typical of Neoclassical art. Perseus is presented with powerful, muscular shapes symbolizing strength, while Medusa’s flowing form highlights her vulnerability while asleep. Unlike the usual depictions where Medusa’s gaze is fatal, here her eyes are closed, her throat exposed, and her snakes are also sleeping. Medusa’s portrayal as a tragic figure, cursed and victimized by male violence, challenges the glorification of her death and critiques the reduction of her story to a male hero's triumph. As someone who admires Greek mythology, I’ve always been disturbed by how much of art centered around her story reduces Medusa’s tale to a severed head. Her story is far more tragic—she was raped and got further wronged and unjustly cursed, forced to endure consequences of something beyond her control. A lot of artwork tends to take on a single viewpoint, making them feel 1-dimensional. A one-sided narrative loses the complexity and deeper meanings that come with exploring different perspectives. Art that embraces these intricacies feels richer, fostering more room for reflection and thought. Which is what I feel art should be about.

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La la Land was shot by a French-American filmmaker, Damien Chazelle, and was released in 2016. The plot follows two protagonists, Mia, an aspiring actress, and Sebastian, a passionate jazz pianist. They both grow a romantic attraction for one another because of the passion they both hold for their dreams that they see in each other. However, as the passionate artists navigate their success in their respective fields, a torn between them arises as they make sacrifices for the dreams they worked so hard for, slowly drifting them apart. Despite the two not ending up with each other, this film teaches us a deeper meaning of what love is. It empathizes with the beauty behind the most complex human experiences one can go through. Mia and Sebastian knew they loved each other in the film's last shot while they looked into each other's eyes, but they also knew that they needed to pursue their dreams. They knew that being with each other would slowly resent each other for holding each other back. The film shows how you can still love someone and not be with them. The movie is the epiphany of how a form of love can also be letting each other go even when you are still in love with them. Giving up being with someone while knowing they can achieve their dreams is such a selfless act. There are people in your life who aren’t always meant to be there forever. In this case, Mia and Sebastian met so they could push each other in the direction of their success.

What I find so captivating about this film is the color theory throughout it. Chazelle doesn't use the stereotypical meanings of colors, where blue represents sadness, and red represents anger or love. Instead, he does a phenomenal job of capturing emotion through each shot with colors to describe the state of the characters. For example, at the beginning of the film, Sebastian and Mia’s colors are red and yellow. As they slowly get to know each other, Mia then starts to wear red accents to represent Sebastian. We also see the sky turn dark purple, which is a mixture of the two colors to indicate the growing connection the two gain for each other. I think it is quite fascinating that the film was able to exemplify the progression of their feelings through the art of colors.

Source:

Lionsgate Movies. (2016). La La Land (2016 Movie) Official Trailer – “Dreamers.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pdqf4P9MB8

Chazelle, D. (Director). (2016). La La Land [Film]. Summit Entertainment.

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"The Problem We All Live With" by Norman Rockwell

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"The Problem We All Live With" by Norman Rockwell

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The name of this piece is called "The Problem We All Live With" which was created by Norman Rockwell and the reason this  was an extremely influential piece of artwork is  because it shows a crucial moment in the civil rights movement which was the integration of  public schools. This was published in Looks magazine on January 14th, 1963 where it shows  6-year old Ruby Bridges  being escorted by the U.S. Marshals walking into William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1960.

Norman Rockwell really wanted to make a bold  statement on racial equality and also the fight against segregation. Ruby walking to school  with the things we saw in the painting really reflects how strong and resilient she really is to stand against such adversity. The title itself ‘The Problem We All Live With’ implies that racism isn't just a specific area but its a shared responsibility that requires collective action to address.

There's a lot emotion and symbolisation that is shown within this painting such as Ruby wearing a clean all white dress with her hair tied back wich shows her innocence and hope but at the same time it shows a the environment she in which appears to be super hostile  with the red tomato thrown at the wall and also the washed off grey graffiti with the racial slur. Even the color usage of environment painting itself where Norman used dull colors throughout the painting to then sharply grab our attention by making Ruby’s Dress a bright white

I really became connected with this topic due to the fact that despite the overwhelming hate, death threats, and pushback that Ruby was getting she faced adversity and decided to stand up not only for herself but for  everyone that believed in her all by herself. What this really expresses to me personally is never give up on what I believe and to be strong in my beliefs.

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Almond Blossom by Vincent Van Gogh, 1890.

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Almond Blossom by Vincent Van Gogh, 1890

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Almond Blossom by Vincent Van Gogh, 1890

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Originally created for his nephew this piece of art was one of the most cherished by the Van Gogh family. In 1925 the family donated the painting to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. In Japanese culture the Almond Blossom symbolizes and new life. The style is post impressionism, using bold colors and expressive brush strokes Van Gogh makes the tree seem alive. As with Van Gogh and Japanese culture to me this painting also signifies a new start. I first saw this painting 7 years ago when a friend gifted it to me after moving into a new apartment. The second time was when I left the country for the first time, I went to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam and was able to see the painting in real life. Finally, this project made me think of it again, coincidentally three months before I goto Japan for the first time. Which is where Van Gogh got the inspiration for this paining. Which gives this painting quite a bit of meaning in my life.

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I: Kobe Bryant (1978-2020) was a famous basketball player that played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years from 1996-2016. His career is widely regarded as one of the best in Basketball and is known for his mentality, toughness, and passion. Built on February 8th 2024 at the crypto arena, the statue attached to this post is one of the many statutes in memory of his Life and career.

II; The shape of the art work is of Kobe himself in a bronze color portraying his historic 81 point game performance matching the colors he wore that in the sculpture. In my view of things, the art piece has good details of his arms like his shoulders, legs specifically in the calve and knee area ( you see the lines and details that perfectly match Kobes knees), and the structure of his head.

III; It connects. to me because of many reasons. To start, I grew up in the LA area and everyone knew and looked up to Kobe Bryant so this hits me home. Kobe represented the spirit of LA and whenever I think of Kobe on a extreme Level, I mainly remember that one Sunday I woke up on Sunday 5 years ago, finding out he passed away. The day was surreal and tragic to me and to the city of la because of how unexpected and how weird that morning was before he passed.

The piece of art to me symbolizes as I said, the spirit of Los Angeles ( home), commitment, discipline, and passion. Kobe to me symbolizes hard work and such a distinct laser eye focus that very few have throughout history.

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The Winged Victory of Samothrace is a hellenistic statue representing Nike, greek goddess of victory. It was discovered in the 1800s by Charles Champoiseau in a ruined temple, and while the head and arms were never recovered, it has been restored about four times with new pieces. It is carved from marble, and is a rare example of pre-baroque and romances statues that were created in relation to the space around them, as she is depicted to be landing on the top of the boat, her wings strained and body moving slightly forward. The ship she's landing on is theorized to be a type of warship, which offers the symbolism of leading the people to victory. The statue is currently kept in the Louvre, but Greece has demanded it be returned as part of repatriated art that was plundered during colonization periods.

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Alberto Giacometti’s L’homme au doigt, created in October 1947, is a bronze sculpture that emerged from World War II. It stands at around six feet tall. The artwork reflects themes of human fragility and existentialism during global uncertainty. The figure is skeletal and elongated, with rough, uneven textures, that emphasize its imperfect nature. Its extended arm points outward, creating a sense of movement while inviting viewers to consider what lies beyond the figure. Possibly hope or a shared destiny. The dark bronze tone gives the sculpture a somber or reflective quality by capturing the feeling of post-war Europe. This artwork became meaningful to me personally as my family immigrated to the U.S. after the war. It speaks to resilience in the face of struggle Giacometti’s Man Pointing represents the fragility of humanity but also inspires a sense of perseverance.

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Andy Warhol's "Shot Blue Marilyn" from 1964 is one of the quintessential pieces from his series Marilyn Monroe, an investigation into celebrity culture and commercialized fame. The title refers both to the bright blue background and an infamous incident when the performance artist Dorothy Podber shot a stack of Warhol's paintings of Marilyn while it was in the studio of the artist, The Factory, leaving physical but very much more symbolic marks. Through the repetition of Monroe's image, Warhol explores the friction between her iconic, glittering public persona and the deep fragility of her private life. Brilliant colors-the gold hair, pink skin, and red lips-end in a cool melancholy of blue in the background. The screen-printing process lends the work an industrial aspect; slight imperfections with unevenness in ink application add a raw fragility to the piece.For me, this work captures something of the fragility beneath the polished surface of perfection, the symbol of dualities we often navigate-light and shadow, fame and isolation, surface and depth. Monroe becomes not just a symbol of beauty and tragedy but also a representation of how we build and curate our identities, much as it is done through today's use of social media. The way Warhol plays with repetition and media-driven personas is deeply resonating, making me question my own balance between authenticity and performance in art and life. The work represents the universal longing to be seen and understood while grappling with the fear of revealing too much-a tension that feels both timeless and personal.

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"The Wave is an 1869 Romantic painting by French artist Gustave Courbet."

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Gustave Courbet created this painting to illustrate the romantic but dynamic nature of the ocean and its waves. This wave in particular is a depiction of the waves off the coast of Normandy, North Western France. This painting dives into the romanticism era of art through the expression of the ocean's emotions, although it is not technically living; It can give off feelings of happiness, anger, sadness, etc. If you focus on the painting, you can see each brush stroke and the intentionality Courbet put into the painting. The color pallet used on this piece of art is very interesting, because it tells a story and it allows for deeper discussion about the true meaning of the artwork.

I became connected to this piece of art because it called out to me when I was researching different pieces of art. Taking a deeper look, I was fascinated by how you could see each brush stroke carefully laid upon one another for a bigger picture. To me, this artwork expresses the danger the ocean has to offer, while also being a place of solitude and a home for so many creatures that are essential to our every day life.