Symposium: Fragments and the Modernist Aesthetic

The fragments collected by Wellesley from the 1940s until the 1960s reflected modernist tastes that encompassed not only African masks, Mediterranean antiquities, and medieval architectural elements, but also abstract painting, inventive architecture, and sleek design. Guest speakers and attendees will examine the role fragments played in the mid-century modernism shaped by artists, collectors, and museums. This afternoon symposium will include presentations by art historian and critic Aruna D’Souza and Ithaca College Assistant Professor Risham Majeed, with discussion led by Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Anthropology at Wellesley Elizabeth Minor.