With 2 exhibits, it's Van Gogh time in Columbus
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The Immersive Van Gogh exhibit in Cleveland, which opened in Columbus last month. Photo: Dale McDonald, courtesy of Lighthouse Immersive
Beloved painter Vincent Van Gogh may have missed the Renaissance by a few centuries, but he's having his own renaissance of sorts this fall in Columbus.
What's happening: The Columbus Museum of Art presents 17 works by Van Gogh and more than 100 other artworks in an exhibit debuting today, "Through Vincent's Eyes: Van Gogh and His Sources."
- Meanwhile, Immersive Van Gogh, a display of digital projections, opened last month in a former Polaris Fashion Place furniture store. It's one of 20 temporary locations in North America by company Lighthouse Immersive.
Why it matters: Columbus hasn't exhibited a Van Gogh piece since 1971, museum chief curator David Stark tells Axios. Though unrelated, both exhibits encourage guests to think about the famous painter in new ways.
- The museum collection emphasizes Van Gogh's community of artists and inspirations rather than the solitude and grief for which he's known.
- The immersive experience, meanwhile, makes an artist from the 1800s approachable for a young audience with Instagram-worthy swirls of color recreated using modern technology.
The intrigue: It's just an odd coincidence that both displays debuted here around the same time.
What they're saying: "This is a heavy lift for two mid-sized art museums. It's quite amazing," Nannette Maciejunes, the Columbus museum's executive director and CEO, tells Axios. She hopes it will attract newcomers.
- Santa Barbara Museum of Art helped with years of organizing and will showcase the collection next year.
If you Gogh: Both exhibits are open through early February.
- Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St. $10, plus admission — $18 adults, $9 seniors, students, kids ages 4-17. Free admission Sundays and always for kids under 4.
- Immersive Van Gogh, 940 Polaris Parkway. Adults $40-70, kids $30-40.
💠Alissa's thought bubble: I'm hardly an art aficionado, but I was really impressed by the museum exhibit. It's mesmerizing to see a canvas covered with Van Gogh's thick, vibrant brushstrokes in-person.
- Now I feel more informed (and excited!) for my upcoming visit to Polaris.
- I recommend checking out both if you can, as they'll allow you to appreciate Van Gogh's works in different ways.
