Mexican, Spanish and Modern Art with Diane Arkin

Week of September 26, 2026

Giants of 20^th Century Mexican Mural Art
Meet Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros—the legendary muralists who turned walls into powerful stories of Mexico’s spirit and identity. Join Diane Arkin for a lively look at how their bold vision transformed art in Mexico and beyond.

Spanish and Mexican Surrealism: Miro, Dali & Frida
Step into the dreamlike worlds of Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, and Frida Kahlo. Each used imagination, emotion, and symbolism to express their inner worlds in strikingly different ways. Diane Arkin leads an inspiring exploration of these creative visionaries.

The Power of Mexican Women Artists
Discover the trailblazing women who helped shape modern Mexican art—Frida Kahlo, Tina Modotti, María Izquierdo, and Lola Bravo. Through passion, courage, and creativity, they captured the changing face of Mexico and left an unforgettable legacy.

Enjoying Modern Art
Modern art can surprise, puzzle, and delight us all at once! Join Diane Arkin for a fun, relaxed look at artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, Warhol, and others who broke the rules and changed how we see the world.

 

For VIP’s, dignitaries, superstars, and celebrities, Diane Arkin, retired Senior Lecturer at the National Gallery of Art, was the scholar routinely called on to provide engaging, entertaining, and thought-provoking presentations on subjects spanning treasures from the medieval period through the most challenging art of today. She also lectured nationally on museum education, trends in theory and practice, active learning strategies, and museums as unique learning environments. Prior to coming to the National Gallery of Art, Diane served as Curator of Education at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art and Design in Washington, DC, and as Director of Education at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Diane’s work as a Program Coordinator in both the Resident Associate Program and the International Study Tours Division of the Smithsonian Institution included years of lecturing both domestically and internationally on a broad range of art historical subjects.