Calendar of Events

Image

Käthe Kollwitz (German, 1867-1945)
Self-Portrait (Selbstbildnis), 1912
Etching, 10 x 8.125 inches
Hofstra University Museum of Art
Gift of Philip James
HU70.104

EXHIBITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Deconstructing Venus
September 8 – December 11, 2026
Emily Lowe Gallery, Behind Emily Lowe Hall, South Campus

The ancient Roman goddess Venus represented love, fertility, and desire.  Viewed as the divine mother of Rome, both men and women worshipped Venus for assistance in various areas, including military success and marriage. After the fall of the Roman Empire, depictions of Venus waned until the Renaissance, where her image was revived in the service of art and has since remained a central figure in Western art history. Youthful, beautiful, coy, available, and maternal, Venus has been more than just a religious and artistic symbol but an ideal projected onto women for thousands of years.

Despite countless depictions of female figures in Western art, women were barred from formal artistic careers. Modernity led to the reevaluation of women’s roles in society, and with it came a pathway for women to participate in the fine arts without male oversight for the first time. Deconstructing Venus is a presentation of art made by women in the 20th and 21st centuries, an era in Western art history that reflects firsthand experiences of women based on their varied personal perspectives.

Each artist represented in Deconstructing Venus engages with ancient notions of womanhood, whether by subverting gender norms, embracing traditional values, or confronting the limitations imposed upon them in a male-dominated world. The diverse voices in the exhibition invite exploration of beauty, intergenerationality, activism, and life events across all ages. Artists in Deconstructing Venus include Lee Krasner, Käthe Kollwitz, Elizabeth Catlett, Marisol, Lori Horowitz, Dee Shapiro, and Susan Grabel as the exhibition’s featured contemporary artist.

Image

Susan Grabel
(American, born 1942)
North Frieze of the Legendary Crone Goddess Temple, 2009
Cast paper, wood
32 x 45 x 3 inches
Courtesy of the artist

FREE PUBLIC PROGRAM
Exhibition Reception
Thursday, September 24, 2026
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Emily Lowe Gallery, Behind Emily Lowe Hall, South Campus

Join us in celebrating the opening of the exhibition Deconstructing Venus.

Remarks at 6 p.m. by Sasha Giordano, director of the Hofstra University Museum of Art; Presley Rodriguez, assistant director of exhibitions and collections; and contemporary artist Susan Grabel.

Admission is free.
RSVP to 516-463-5672 or museum@hofstra.edu

SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS
The Muse – After Hours
Introduction to Mah Jongg
Friday, October 16, 2026
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Emily Lowe Gallery, Behind Emily Lowe Hall, South Campus

The Muse – After Hours
Introduction to Crochet
Friday, November 13, 2026
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Emily Lowe Gallery, Behind Emily Lowe Hall, South Campus

Join us in the Emily Lowe Gallery for an evening of creativity and community, and leave with a
new favorite hobby!

Surround yourself with art from Deconstructing Venus, an exhibition of modern and contemporary art by women who explore the complexities of their experiences through creative expression.

Light refreshments will be served.

Cost: $25 per person, per session ($45 if you register for both sessions)
10% discount for museum members, University faculty and staff; University students are free with I.D.

Registration is required; space is limited.
Contact: 516-463-5672 or museum@hofstra.edu

Image

Lori Horowitz
(American, born 1960)
Venus Amongst Her Treasures, 2024
Mixed-media relief
Aluminum sculpted photo, fabric, paper, wood, fiber, and encaustic wax
30 x 24 x 12 inches
Courtesy of the artist

FREE PUBLIC PROGRAM
Women, Art, and Activism
Panel Discussion
Co-sponsored by the Hofstra Cultural Center
Thursday, October 22, 2026
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Leo A. Guthart Cultural Center Theater, Axinn Library, First Floor, South Campus

Join artists, scholars, and student voices for a dynamic conversation exploring how women have used art as a catalyst for activism, social change, and cultural dialogue. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A and will culminate at the Emily Lowe Gallery for an exhibition viewing of Deconstructing Venus and an informal conversation with panelists and attendees. 

Panel: Artists Susan Grabel, President of the Ceres Gallery in New York City and former President of the Women’s Caucus for Art, New York City Chapter; Lori Horowitz, President of the New York Society of Women Artists; Dee Shapiro, Yaddo Fellow, Chair and Curator of Exhibitions, National Arts Club and adjunct professor in the Art History and Studio Art Department at Empire State College from 1978-2020; Dr. Maria Anastasio, professor of Spanish, Department of Romance Languages and Literatures and director of the Women's Studies Program; Dr. Genie Nicole Giaimo, associate professor of Writing Studies and Rhetoric, Writing Center director; Hofstra University Student Paula Lomeli, English major, concentration in creative writing and minors in women’s studies, world literature and writing studies, assistant copy chief of the Hofstra Chronicle.

Moderator: Suzanne Berman, associate professor of Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations, PR 114 Bombshell: Beauty and Fashion in Public Relations, cross-listed with Women's Studies

Admission is free.
RSVP to 516-463-5672 or museum@hofstra.edu

Image

Dee Shapiro
(American, born 1936)
My Olympia, 2018
Mixed media on paper
40 x 70 inches
Courtesy of the artist

FREE PUBLIC PROGRAM
Speak Up! The Art of Civic Engagement
Teach-In: How to Lobby presented by the Nassau County Regional Office of the New York Civil Liberties Union
Day of Dialogue
Co-sponsored by the Center for Civic Engagement
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
2:40-4:05 p.m.
Emily Lowe Gallery, Behind Emily Lowe Hall, South Campus

Inspired by Deconstructing Venus, this discussion examines the relationship between art, social change, and democratic participation. Representatives from the Civil Liberties Unionwill offer practical guidance on civic engagement, including how to advocate for issues you care about, communicate effectively with elected officials, and participate in shaping your community.

Presenters: Susan Gottehrer, director, Nassau County Regional Office of the New York Civil Liberties Union, and Arlo Fleischer, organizer, Nassau County Regional Office of the New York Civil Liberties

Capped at 45 attendees
Admission is free.
RSVP to 516-463-5672 or museum@hofstra.edu

*Reserved seating for Professor Giamo's class WSC131 (IS, WI) Activist Writing, Community Engagement

SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS
The Muse – After Hours
Introduction to Crochet
Friday, November 13, 2026
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Emily Lowe Gallery, Behind Emily Lowe Hall, South Campus

The Muse – After Hours
Introduction to Mah Jongg
Friday, October 16, 2026
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Emily Lowe Gallery, Behind Emily Lowe Hall, South Campus

Join us in the Emily Lowe Gallery for an evening of creativity and community, and leave with a
new favorite hobby!

Surround yourself with art from Deconstructing Venus, an exhibition of modern and contemporary art by women who explore the complexities of their experiences through creative expression.

Light refreshments will be served.

Registration is required; space is limited.
Cost: $25 per person, per session ($45 if you register for both sessions)
10% discount for museum members, University faculty and staff; University students are free with I.D.
Contact: 516-463-5672 or museum@hofstra.edu

FREE PUBLIC PROGRAM
Mindful Moment Mondays
Join us for a free art experience that connects people living with dementia and their care partners.
Participants will spend time in the Emily Lowe Gallery with museum educators as we look at art, build community, and create together.

This 45-60 minute session is available for up to 25 participants, including care partners, and can be scheduled Monday through Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

To schedule your group, contact Amy Solomon, director of museum education, at amy.g.solomon@hofstra.edu

SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS
Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Tour
View the museum’s collection storage followed by Q&A in the Emily Lowe Gallery and a
discussion about how museums acquire and care for collections.

Presented by Sasha Giordano, director of the Hofstra University Museum of Art.

Schedule a 1-hour tour 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday.
Evening hours available upon request.

Registration is required; space is limited.
Contact: 516-463-5672 or museum@hofstra.edu

Cost: $250 for groups of up to 8 guests
10% discount for museum members, University faculty, and staff.