Lafayette, LA – The Hilliard Art Museum is proud to host a symposium, Rodin: Toward Modernity, taking place at the LITE Center on Friday, October 25, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, with doors at 9:30 AM. The free special event marks the opening of an exceptional exhibition of Rodin’s work on view at the Hilliard Art Museum from October 25, 2024 – April 30, 2025. Art enthusiasts, students, and the general public are invited to learn about the life and times of the renowned French sculptor Auguste Rodin and then explore the exhibition.

Distinguished presenters will include:

• Allison Leigh, Associate Professor of Art History and SLEMCO/LEQSF Regents Endowed Professor, University of Louisiana

• Judith Sobol, Curator of Collections & Exhibitions, Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation

• Ivan Schwartz, Founder & Director, StudioEIS

Click here to learn more about the presenters.

“This project would not have been possible without the generous support of Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation. Their efforts to celebrate Rodin’s legacy through educational initiatives like this exhibition are laudable. Amazing,” says Ben Hickey, curator of Rodin: Toward Modernity.

Hickey continued, “It is rare to see so much Rodin in one place outside of Paris or New York. After spending the better part of a year preparing for this project, I was taken aback to discover I was emotionally moved by the grace and despair portrayed in The Burghers of Calais when I saw them in person. This once-in-a-generation opportunity for Acadiana, Rodin: Toward Modernity, is not to be missed.”

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Register using the following link: RSVP Here.

This symposium complements our RODIN: TOWARD MODERNITY exhibition, part of the Hilliard Art Museum’s 20th-anniversary celebrations. RODIN: TOWARD MODERNITY includes 40 bronze sculptures by Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), who was regarded during his lifetime as the greatest sculptor since Michelangelo and selected from the collections of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation and the North Carolina Museum of Art, the exhibition will include many of the French sculptor’s most well-known works, including “The Burghers of Calais”, “The Kiss” and studies for his largest commission, “The Gates of Hell,” as well as Honoré de Balzac and St. John the Baptist. Special thanks to The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation and the North Carolina Museum of Art for their generous support of this exhibition.

Museum Hours, Admission & General Information

The Hilliard Art Museum is located at 710 E. Saint Mary Blvd. on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday. For general information, please visit HillliardMuseum.org or call 337-482-2278.

About the Hilliard Art Museum

Our Museum is a bridge. Our Museum is a catalyst. Our Museum is for everyone. We connect art and education, our university and community, generations, heritage, and cultures. The Hilliard Art Museum-University of Louisiana at Lafayette is not just a place to look at art. It is a place where visitors are encouraged to see art truly. It is a place of learning where students sketch in the galleries and artists talk about their work. It is a destination for families where kids express their creativity through hands-on activities. It is a resource for academic research and observation. Museum experiences build skills that extend into every aspect of life. Viewing art promotes dialogue and understanding among individuals, families, and our community. Art makes life richer and better for everyone.