Deconstructing Venus
September 8 – December 11, 2026
Emily Lowe Gallery
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.
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
Related Programs
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.
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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
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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... | Read More |
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
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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, | Read More |
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.
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Gallery Location and Hours
Emily Lowe Gallery
Behind Emily Lowe Hall, South Campus
Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. • Saturday and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.
The Museum is closed on major holidays, during Hofstra University recesses, and during exhibition installations.