This series explores the relationship between Renaissance art and its modern descendants, examining how contemporary artists engage with historical art to create new meanings. Topics include narration, formal concerns, icons, body symbolism, and gender in portraiture. The lectures aim to highlight the relevance of the past to contemporary art practices, promoting a connected understanding of art across time.

How do representations of marginalized bodies challenge dominant narratives in history? What new realities are revealed about the absence and agency of Black Africans by a more global approach to the 14–17th centuries? The international conference Hidden in Plain Sight, co-hosted by the NIKI and NYU-Florence, will explore a range of interrelated themes, drawing from art history, anthropology, African studies, history, musicology, and other fields. By critically re-examining histories of colonialism and slavery, the event seeks to reshape our understanding of disciplinary boundaries and spark new scholarly debates.

Astrid Van Oyen, Professor of Archaeology at Radboud University, will discuss the archaeological findings from the Marzuolo site in Tuscany, revealing the dramatic turns of rural Roman life, including a failed wine business, a smithy fire, and a potter’s innovations. The lecture also explores archaeological methods and the importance of reconstructing everyday lives in history.