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Tag Archives: MFA


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Artwork by: Mario Testino

Last night was the Mario Testino opening at the MFA- what an amazing party! There was quite the star studded guest list including Gisele, Anna Wintour, Hamish Bowles, Karlie Kloss, Olivia Palermo, and a bevy of supermodels, out to support of one fashion’s most famous photographers. I have never been at a party in Boston (or probably ever) with this much press coverage- it almost made ME feel like a celebrity- o wait……… I’m not.

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a flurry of models entering the exhibit

Gisele, Mario Testino, Anna Wintour, Malcom Rogers

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some other A list celebrities

….But that didn’t mean we didn’t get to party like one. The museum was completely abuzz with excitement- amazing food, drinks, great music- a greenhouse in the courtyard outfitted like a nightclub.. and then after we were done being star struck and partying, there was some serious art to attend to.

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Mario Testino is a Peruvian fashion photographer. Pick up an issue of Vogue or Vanity Fair and there is probably a 50% chance that he photographed the cover image. Flip through the magazine and you can attribute his name to several photographs. But his work does not stop at editorial images. He also has shot several portraits of the British Royal family- including Will and Kate’s engagement photos. The MFA is currently exhibiting the best of all of these works in two separate exhibits “In Your Face” and “British Royal Portraits” (evidently the royal family didn’t want to be in the same gallery as the commoners).

We were able to walk through “In Your Face” – and the exhibit definitely lived up to its name. The images were both controversial and beautiful. They were printed on a HUGE scale and packed even more of a punch then they do inside a 8.5″x11″ magazine. The galleries were boldly colored in blacks and teals and the photos were all tightly lined up, resting on shelves. It was fun to recognize so many faces and even images that I remember reading over the past 10+ years. Some of the images were a little controversial (hello naked!) but they were all FUN.

Between the visual stimulation, the models walking around, the shutters of photographers clicking and a glass or two of champagne- it was a bit of a sensory overload. I took horrible pictures! Good thing I have Maggie to the rescue with these favorites:

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So, if you are a fan of fashion editorials, celebrities, or just some bold and beautiful photography I suggest you RUN to the MFA to check out this amazing exhibit! It opens for the public on Sunday- but if you are a member- its open today :)


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Artwork by: Winslow Homer

Last night I visited the MFA in Boston with Nicks mom. We had a great time exploring the new Contemporary Wing, the Art of Europe, and the rooms upon rooms of colonial furniture. But my absolute favorite floor is the 19th century and early 20th century galleries in the Art of the Americas wing. The MFA has a such a strong holding of these paintings- many of them by artists from Massachusetts and the city of Boston including one of my favorite artists- Winslow Homer. Seeing his work each time that I visit is like making a visit to an old friend. You didn’t miss them while you were apart, but the reunion always makes you happy and reminds you of your fondness…

You might not know him by name, but I will bet you are familiar with at least one of Winslow Homer’s paintings. Winslow Homer is best known for his scenes depicting American life. Unlike so many of his contemporaries, Homer was not sitting in stuffy rooms doing portraiture for the wealthy elite. He began his career as an illustrator for Harper’s Weekly and eventually branched out to other mediums, traveling around New England and the rest of the world. His scenes are of pastoral life and fishing towns. My personal favorite are the sailboats. He captures a simpler time in America, one that I think all of us wish to escape to, which is a large part of his paintings’ appeal.

a few favorites from the MFA’s collection:

This last one is absolutely one of my favorite paintings in all of the museum. “Gloucester, Mackerel Fleet at Sunset”. It is in an undecorated corner at the back of the room, but the glowing golds and purples draw you in from a room away. I am completely mesmerized every time I see it, and love to imagine sitting there at the time he was painting it, watching the sun set and the boats sail by.

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Artwork by: Alex Katz

On Monday night I was lucky enough to attend the opening of Alex Katz Prints at the Museum of Fine Arts. I was not familiar with Katz’s work before but I am so happy that the MFA is hosting this exhibition! I fell absolutely in love with the bold colors and sharp line work. Katz is a contemporary American artist who’s most known for his printmaking- specifically portraits of his family and friends. His wife Ada is one of his favorite subjects and she was featured throughout the exhibit- almost always wearing a hat.

This last one “Orange Hat” is far and away my favorite- hats are such a great prop for portraiture and the navy and orange are absolutely amazing! A fun aspect of the opening party was that everyone was invited to wear their own most fabulous hats- and people really went to town with the idea! I saw everything from cowboy hats and newsies caps to Military hats and fancy fascinators. It was a really festive atmosphere. I felt pretty left out not have my own cocktail attire worthy hat- wearing one is such a bold fashion choice and I’m always too scared to take the plunge- but after coming across these images, I think I might seriously have to start looking!

So that was quite a tangent for hats, but my point being- if you are in Boston this summer, I highly recommend that you stop by the MFA for a visit to this great show!

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