Virtual Spotlight Tour: The Black Body in Contemporary Drawings by Toyin Ojih Odutola, with Sophia Scott ’25

This event requires registration; see further details below.

In this virtual Spotlight Tour, in honor of Black History Month, Sophia Scott ’25 will explore the drawing practice of Toyin Ojih Odutola, a contemporary artist interested in mark-making, surface, and the Black body. Born in Nigeria in 1985 and raised in the United States, Ojih Odutola lives and works in New York. Scott will focus on Nanban, The Trap Vowel, and Save Face, three recently acquired drawings that will appear in the upcoming exhibition Future Minded: New Works in the Collection (March 1–July 21, 2024). These compelling drawings have semi-reflective surfaces that provocatively hinder viewers from seeing the imagery all at once, or from a single point of view.

Spotlight Tours offer a chance to explore the collections of the Harvard Art Museums through the eyes of a Harvard student. Free and open to the public, these tours start outside the museum shop on Saturdays and Sundays at 11am and 2pm. Drop in and join the conversation! And find out what the Student Guides are up to anytime on Instagram @harvardarthappens.

This tour will take place online via Zoom. The event is free and open to all, but registration is required. To register, please complete this online form.

The Harvard Art Museums are now offering free admission every day, Tuesday through Sunday. Please see the museum visit page to learn about our general policies for visiting the museums.

This program is supported by the Ho Family Student Guide Fund.

The Ho Family Student Guide Program at the Harvard Art Museums prepares students to develop original, research-based tours of the collections. Through their training, Student Guides gain knowledge of the collections and develop skills in critical thinking, visual analysis, public speaking, and leadership.

The Harvard Art Museums are committed to accessibility for all visitors. For anyone requiring accessibility accommodations for our programs, please contact us at am_register@harvard.edu at least 48 hours in advance.