Elevate Your Membership ► 2026–27
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Cover: Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Bal du moulin de la Galette (Dance at Moulin de la Galette) (detail), 1876. Oil on canvas. Collection Musée d’Orsay, bequest of Gustave Caillebotte, 1896. Photo: © GrandPalaisRmn, (Musée d’Orsay) / Mathieu Rabeau.
Fall in love with art I am pleased to share a rich array of programs developed for you, our most active supporters. A museum is a place to encounter ideas, connect with one another, and gain new perspectives that expand how we see the world. Our exhibitions and programs offer a deep exploration into what makes the MFA so special. This selection of events recognizes not only your commitment to the MFA, but your important role in the fabric of our community; you make it possible for us to provide meaningful experiences for everyone who visits. From behind-the-scenes moments of discovery with curators and conservators, to stimulating talks with artists and makers, together we will celebrate profound artistic accomplishment, fuel our imaginations, and feel connected. The MFA’s Curators Circles allow you to engage even more closely with collection areas, fellow supporters, and curators, and gain insights into our newest exhibitions and galleries. Travel opportunities offer global perspectives on art, history, and culture. The fall’s wonderful range of exhibitions begins with the modern giants of Spanish art in “Picasso, Miró, Dalí: Unbound,” while “Maverick Kings: Three Visionary Pharaohs of Egypt’s Golden Age” presents a fascinating look at the power of ancient rulers conveyed through their monuments and treasures. “Suzanne Jackson: What Is Love” shows the full breadth of an extraordinary artist’s career from the 1960s to the present. And in February, a beloved Impressionist master brings the bonds of love and friendship to glorious life in “Renoir and Love,” our first solo exhibition of the artist’s work since 1985! These programs and events provide opportunities to explore art in depth and celebrate together. Importantly, your support helps sustain the MFA’s curatorial activities and day-to-day operations. Please reach out to our dedicated Patron Program and Museum Council staff with any questions or for help planning a visit. I hope you feel enlivened by the connections you make here—social, artistic, intellectual, civic, and global—and, most of all, your deeper connection to the MFA itself, its collections, and its people. I look forward to spending this year together.
Pierre Terjanian Ann and Graham Gund Director
► Welcome and Exhibition Highlights
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► Exhibition Highlights Art of the Americas: 1700–1800 ► Ongoing
► Through 1/24/27
Eight new galleries bring together 18th-century works from North, South, and Central America, and the Caribbean—including works by Native American and Indigenous makers—to consider resistance, liberty, and revolution during the 1700s. The display includes paintings, furniture, silver, wood carvings, baskets, and more, as well as select contemporary art that responds to the same themes of American nationhood and identity.
This exhibition introduces the imaginative world of the livre d’artiste, or artist’s book, through a group of extraordinary works by Spanish artists—including Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and Salvador Dalí. The rarely seen works explore how images, words, and typography intersect, often in intricate ways that defy expectations.
Maverick Kings: Three Visionary Pharaohs of Egypt’s Golden Age ► Through 12/6/26 “Maverick Kings” draws primarily from the MFA’s extensive collection of ancient Egyptian art to explore the lives and legacies of three pharaohs from the 18th Dynasty, including one of Egypt’s few female rulers. All members of the same family, each was a maverick who understood the power of images and used them effectively during their long reigns.
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Picasso, Miró, Dalí: Unbound
Naoko Matsubara’s Woodblock Worlds ► Through 5/16/27 Naoko Matsubara (b. 1937) creates bold, expressive woodblock prints depicting a varied array of themes. This exhibition focuses on locations that have been transformative for the artist’s practice: Kyoto, Boston, Toronto, and Tibet, and dives into the storied career of an artist who connects craft, communities, and an ever-observant eye on the world.
Suzanne Jackson: What Is Love ► 9/26/26–1/18/27 From her ethereal early canvases to recent abstractions that suspend paint in midair, Suzanne Jackson (b. 1944) has continually reinvented her practice while remaining rooted in memory, place, and material exploration. Co-organized by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Walker Art Center in collaboration with the artist, this is the first retrospective devoted to Jackson’s six-decade-long career.
Kawada Kikuji: Chizu (The Map) ► 10/24/26–7/18/27 This exhibition introduces the full scope of Chizu (The Map) (1965), the landmark photobook of Kawada Kikuji (b. 1933). Through the MFA’s extensive archive of images, negatives, and contact sheets, the display showcases how the original book engaged with the uncertainty of Japanese society in the 1960s and acknowledges the complex relationship of that society to the past and future.
Renoir and Love ► 2/28–6/13/27 Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919) created joyful, innovative explorations of love and sociability in scenes encompassing a range of social classes and public spaces. Organized with the Musée d’Orsay, Paris, and the National Gallery, London, the MFA is the only US venue to present new insights into iconic loans and collection works.
Modern Tempo: Postcards and the Avant-Garde, 1910–1940 ► 6/19/27–1/17/28 In the early 20th century, almost everything that happened in society ended up on a postcard. The MFA has one of the most comprehensive postcard collections in the world, and this exhibition pulls from this unparalleled resource to investigate how artists from various movements used postcards to promote their art and make it more accessible to the public.
Opposite page: Unknown artist, relief of Amenhotep III and Sekhmet, Egyptian, New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Amenhotep III, 1390–1352 BCE. Quartzite. Gift of British School of Archaeology in Egypt. This page: Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Dance at Bougival (detail), 1883. Oil on canvas. Picture Fund.
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►►► Patrons
Your ticket to exhilarating art and insider experiences Patrons are part of an intimate community of art lovers and vital investors in the future of the MFA. Patrons receive an unparalleled array of benefits and event invitations, bringing them closer to the Museum they love. Be among the first to explore the MFA’s world-class exhibitions, get to know curators and leadership, and dive deeper into the incredible collection. Each level of Patron membership offers a range of exciting benefits, outlined on the following pages.
► Questions? ► 617-369-3211 ► patronprogram@mfa.org ► mfa.org/patron ► Questions? ► 617-369-3211 ►
► Patrons
Patrons Committee 2026–27 Kate Enroth, Chair
Ronit Antebi-Hadar
Olaperi Onipede
Elizabeth Dunne Marcoulier, Vice Chair
Meryl Beckingham
Maria Park
Joan Blair
Hadley and Allie Powell
Kate Moran Collins
Margo Pullman
Lynn Bay Dayton
Alia Sabbey
Justin DuMouchelle
Tricia Schade
Lisa Dynner
Nalini Sharma
Teri Groome
Phyllis Sims
Debbie Johnston Meg Kasuba
Anne Donatelle Szymanski
Alyssa Mack
Peggy Henry Van Dorp
Anne McNay
Charlotte Zawel
Laura Brenninkmeyer Nielsen
Images courtesy of Pierce Harman Photography.
► patronprogram@mfa.org ► mfa.org/patron ► Questions? ► 617-369-3211 ► patronprogram@mfa.org ► mfa.o
► Patrons Events Patron Member Exhibition Celebration: Maverick Kings
Book Talk and Signing: Hokusai, Hiroshige, and Hasui
► Tuesday 9/15/26 ► Evening
► Saturday 3/13/27 ► Morning
Celebrate fall’s special exhibition, “Maverick Kings: Three Visionary Pharaohs of Egypt’s Golden Age,” with Pierre Terjanian, Ann and Graham Gund Director, and Lawrence Berman, John F. Cogan Jr. and Mary L. Cornille Chair, Art of Ancient Egypt, Nubia, and the Near East.
Enjoy coffee and pastries with Sarah Thompson, Terrie and Bradley Bloom Curator of Japanese Prints, followed by a talk on her latest publication that offers a tour of Japan’s most evocative places through the eyes and works of three masters of woodblock prints.
Behind the Scenes: Picasso, Miró, Dalí ► Tuesday 10/6/26 ► Evening Hear insights about “Picasso, Miró, Dalí: Unbound” from Pierre Terjanian, Ann and Graham Gund Director, members of the curatorial team, and collector Boris Fridman, whose collection is the focus of the exhibition. Afterward enjoy private exhibition access and a dinner reception.
Coffee with a Curator: Maverick Kings ► Saturday 11/14/26 ► Morning Join fellow members for coffee, pastries, and a behind-the-scenes talk on “Maverick Kings” by curator Lawrence Berman.
Up Close: Rarely Seen Works on Paper ► Wednesday 1/20/27 ► Evening ► Virtual Curators from the Department of Prints and Drawings share a virtual close look at their favorite collection works on paper that are rarely seen because they are too fragile or complex to display.
Exhibition Opening: Renoir and Love ► Tuesday 2/23/27 ► Evening Get a special first look at “Renoir and Love” with Pierre Terjanian, Ann and Graham Gund Director, and Katie Hanson, William and Ann Elfers Curator of Paintings, Art of Europe.
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The Art of Science and Conservation ► Wednesday 4/7/27 ► Evening One of our most popular events! View artworks undergoing restoration and treatment up close with expert conservators during this Patron favorite “science fair” evening. A dinner reception follows.
Coffee with a Curator: Renoir and Love ► Saturday 5/15/27 ► Morning Mingle with fellow members over coffee and breakfast pastries, then enjoy a glimpse behind the curtain of “Renoir and Love” from curator Katie Hanson.
Patron Signature Evening: Art, Wellness, and the Future of Museums ► Tuesday 5/25/27 ► Evening Pierre Terjanian, Ann and Graham Gund Director, leads a conversation with leaders in health and wellness on museums as spaces that support healing, community well-being, and emotional resilience.
Patron Fellow Also includes all Patron Member level events America at 250 ► Tuesday 10/20/26 ► Evening Spend time with members of the Art of the Americas curatorial team, who reimagined the 18th-century art of the Americas galleries in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of American Independence. A dinner reception follows.
The Sounds of Renoir’s Paris: An Evening with the Aegis Piano Trio ► Tuesday 3/23/27 ► Evening Experience the sounds of Renoir’s Paris as the Aegis Piano Trio drifts from the twilight music of Mel Bonis, a French woman who published her compositions under a man’s name, to the French masters Debussy and Ravel. The performance is presented in partnership with Carriage House Violins. A dinner reception and private access to “Renoir and Love” follow.
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Stay Tuned!
You never know what’s around the corner. Please keep an eye on your e-mail for special Patron Program opportunities and updates throughout the season. In rare cases, changes to our event schedule occur. See the most up-to-date information for all Patron events at mfa.org/patron.
Patron Event Tips Join us! Invitations to events admit two, are sent by e-mail, and include RSVP instructions. Please ensure you have provided us with a valid e-mail address. The Patron Program is pleased to offer complimentary parking at all on-site Patron events.
Unknown artist, seated statue of Hatshepsut, Egyptian, New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, joint reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III (detail), about 1479–1458 BCE. Indurated limestone, paint. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Rogers Fund, 1929. Image copyright © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Image source: Art Resource, NY.
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► Patrons Events Patron Sponsor Also includes all Patron Member and Fellow level events Art and Jazz
Chairman’s Circle, President’s Circle, and Director’s Circle Also includes all Patron Member, Fellow, and Sponsor level events
► Wednesday 9/23/26 ► Evening Experience an evening of conversation, art, and music with George W. Russell Jr., chair of Harmony and Jazz Composition at Berklee College of Music, and MFA curators. Spend time with curators in the John Axelrod Gallery, which is dedicated to the close relationship between jazz and the visual arts, and enjoy a special performance. A dinner follows.
Behind the Scenes: Art of the Ancient World ► Tuesday 5/4/27 ► Morning Go behind the scenes for a rare close-up look at treasures in storage. View works in our Art of Ancient Greece and Rome, and Art of Ancient Egypt, Nubia, and the Near East collections—many unseen for decades. Hear from the curatorial teams on the care and research of these works, as well as their future aspirations. A conversational lunch follows.
Director’s Choice Evening ► Tuesday 11/17/26 ► Evening Celebrate the breadth and depth of the Museum’s collection through close looking with curators and conservators at collection gems not currently on view that Pierre Terjanian, Ann and Graham Director, has personally selected. A seated dinner follows.
Director’s Dinner: Rediscovered Gems ► Tuesday 4/13/27 ► Evening Pierre Terjanian, Ann and Graham Gund Director, hosts this intimate evening viewing spectacular collection works up close. Hear why even though these pieces have long been on view, MFA curators have recently recognized them as extraordinary and deserving of worldwide acclaim and how celebrating these gems connects to Pierre’s vision for the future of the Museum.
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Naoko Matsubara, Flute, 1974. Woodcut. Francis Welch Fund, Towles Contemporary Art Fund, and Edward S. Morse Memorial Fund. © Naoko Matsubara.
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► Patrons Levels and Benefits ► In Gratitude for Your Support •
12 months of complimentary admission, including special exhibitions
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Early access to reserve special exhibition tickets
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Patron Concierge Service with staff dedicated to personally handling your special requests, including assistance with ticket reservations
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Opportunity to join Curators Circles to learn more about the Museum’s collections
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Reciprocal admission benefits at select major art museums
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Opportunities to travel with MFA curators
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15% discount at all MFA dining venues
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10% discount at all Museum Shops, in person and online
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Up to a 40% discount on parking for Museum visits; complimentary parking for all Patron events
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Access to curator talks and programs open to all levels of MFA membership
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Recognition in the Annual Report Patron Program benefits are nontransferable and subject to change.
Patron Member
Patron Sponsor
► Contributing $3,000–$5,999
► Contributing $12,000–$29,999
• All Patron membership benefits listed at the top of this page
• All benefits at the Patron Fellow level
• Daily general admission for up to six adults and four youths (ages 7–17)
• Personal support to share the MFA with friends and family and customize your own MFA experience
• 12 tickets for each special exhibition
• Invitations to additional intimate experiences with MFA curators
• Invitations to all Patron Member events and learning opportunities
• 20 tickets for each special exhibition
• Discount on guided group experiences
• Ability to rent space at the MFA to host your private event with a 50% discount on the reservation fee
• $355 per person is not tax deductible
• Fees waived for guided group experiences
Patron Fellow ► Contributing $6,000–$11,999 • All benefits at the Patron Member level
• $595 per person is not tax deductible
Director’s Circle Patron ► Contributing $30,000–$49,999
• 14 tickets for each special exhibition
• All benefits at the Patron Sponsor level
• Invitations to two additional special events with MFA curators and conservators
• Unlimited admission for you and your guests
• $495 per person is not tax deductible
• Invitations to exclusive events with the MFA’s Ann and Graham Gund Director • Complimentary parking for MFA visits • Priority registration for MFA Travel • VIP tickets to domestic and international art fairs upon request (when available) • Ability to host a wedding at the MFA (see page 11)
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• $795 per person is not tax deductible
Join or renew 617-369-3211 patronprogram@mfa.org mfa.org/patron
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President’s Circle Patron ► Contributing $50,000–$99,999 • All benefits at the Director’s Circle level • Your choice of a complimentary Patron Member or Museum Council Fellow level membership to gift to a friend, family member, or colleague • A complimentary exhibition catalogue selected by MFA staff
Host a Private Event or Celebration at the MFA Private Events Patrons can host private events at the MFA. Patrons at the Sponsor level receive a 50 percent discount on the reservation fee; the entire reservation fee is waived for the Director’s Circle Patron level and above. Please note that the benefits of Patron support cannot be transferred to corporations.
► Contributing $100,000 or more
Signature Celebrations Patrons at the Director’s Circle level and above have the opportunity to host a wedding in the exceptional setting of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Please note that specific requirements and conditions apply. Contact Gourmet Caterers at 617-369-3115 for more information.
• All benefits at the President’s Circle level
Making Your Gift
• Opportunity to host an intimate cocktail party at the MFA for up to ten guests with the curator and focus on the collection area of your choice, upon request
We welcome gifts of appreciated securities, as well as gifts from donor-advised funds, family foundations, and IRA-qualified charitable distributions. Please contact us for information on making your gift and tax-deductibility implications.
• $795 per person is not tax deductible
Chairman’s Circle Patron
• Complimentary annual membership to one Curators Circle of your choice • $795 per person is not tax deductible
Curators Circles: Customize Your MFA Experience All Patrons are eligible to join Curators Circles. Choose among 14 groups to gain deeper insight into the Museum’s collection areas with curators and other experts. See page 22 for more information. 11
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Advocates Get closer to art and support the Museum you love Your Advocate membership gift helps bring people and art together and contributes vital support to the Museum. In appreciation, we invite Advocates to sample the Patron and Curators Circles experiences through invitations to events and programs designed to bring you closer to the MFA’s collection and staff.
► Join or renew ► 617-369-3211 ► patronprogram@mfa.org ► mfa.org/advocate ► Join or renew ► 617-369-32
► Advocates
Advocate Events Advocates are invited to the following events. Invitations admit two, are sent by e-mail, and include RSVP instructions. Please ensure you have provided us with a valid e-mail. Event schedule is subject to change; please see mfa.org/advocate for the most up-to-date information.
Coffee with a Curator: Maverick Kings ► Saturday 11/14/26 ► Morning Join fellow members for coffee, pastries, and a behind-the-scenes talk on “Maverick Kings: Three Visionary Pharaohs of Egypt’s Golden Age” by Lawrence Berman, John F. Cogan Jr. and Mary L. Cornille Chair, Art of Ancient Egypt, Nubia, and the Near East.
Up Close: Rarely Seen Works on Paper ► Wednesday 1/20/27 ► Evening ► Virtual Curators from the Department of Prints and Drawings share a virtual close look at their favorite collection works on paper that are rarely seen because they are too fragile or complex to display.
Exhibition Opening: Renoir and Love ► Tuesday 2/23/27 ► Evening Get a special first look at “Renoir and Love” with Pierre Terjanian, Ann and Graham Gund Director, and Katie Hanson, William and Ann Elfers Curator of Paintings, Art of Europe.
Advocate Benefits ► $1,200 to $2,999 Annual Gift • Complimentary daily general admission for up to six adults and four youths (ages 7–17) • Early access to reserve eight tickets for each special exhibition • Invitations to a selection of Patron events and one Curators Circles event • Opportunity to join Curators Circles to learn about the Museum’s collections (see page 22) • 10% discount in all Museum Shops; 15% discount at all MFA dining venues; up to 40% off parking • Reciprocal admission benefits at select major art museums • Invitations to members-only curator talks and programs • $110 per person is not tax deductible Advocate benefits are nontransferable and subject to change.
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One Curators Circles Event of Your Choice!
Deepen your relationship with the Museum by sampling a complimentary Curators Circles event of your choice (see pages 22–32). Available only to our most dedicated members, Curators Circles bring you closer to the MFA’s collection with regular gatherings of curators and fellow enthusiasts in intimate settings. To RSVP for the event of your choice, please e-mail curatorscircles@mfa.org.
Book Talk and Signing: Hokusai, Hiroshige, and Hasui ► Saturday 3/13/27 ► Morning Enjoy coffee and pastries with Sarah Thompson, Terrie and Bradley Bloom Curator of Japanese Prints, followed by a talk on her latest publication that offers a tour of Japan’s most evocative places through the eyes and works of three masters of woodblock prints. Images courtesy of Pierce Harman Photography.
211 ► patronprogram@mfa.org ► mfa.org/advocate ► Join or renew ► 617-369-3211 ► patronprogram@mfa.org ► m
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Museum Council Celebrate art and find your community The Museum Council is Boston’s premier group of young arts and culture enthusiasts. Membership offers insider access to art experiences, social opportunities, and more, while also providing meaningful philanthropic support to the MFA. Each level of Museum Council membership offers a range of exciting benefits, outlined on the following pages.
► Questions? ► 617-369-3268 ► museumcouncil@mfa.org ► mfa.org/council ► Questions? ► 617-369-3268 ► museum
► Museum Council
Museum Council Committee 2026–27 Christopher Kelley, Chair
David Arsenault
Hannah Menard
Anna Bezener, Vice Chair
Caroline Barry
Yooni Park
Arjun Gupta, Vice Chair
Alanna Barton
Ava Pavao
Emily Anne Jacobstein, Vice Chair
Donavan Brown
Michael Schmitt
Andrew Mowry, Vice Chair
Claudia Deeley
Paul Siegel
Nitin Walia, Vice Chair
Harriet Fink
Oleksiy Slobodyan
Georgina Winthrop, Vice Chair
Justin Hart
David Tattle
Beeta Jahedi
Hanna Tuomi
Bobby Keane
Waverly Winterer
Jacob Lazarus
Zachary Zaremba
Images courtesy of Pierce Harman Photography.
mcouncil@mfa.org ► mfa.org/council ► Questions? ► 617-369-3268 ► museumcouncil@mfa.org ► mfa.org/council ► Questi
► Museum Council Events
Member Level Exhibition Celebration: Maverick Kings ► Tuesday 9/15/26 ► Evening Celebrate fall’s special exhibition, “Maverick Kings: Three Visionary Pharaohs of Egypt’s Golden Age,” with Pierre Terjanian, Ann and Graham Gund Director, and Lawrence Berman, John F. Cogan Jr. and Mary L. Cornille Chair, Art of Ancient Egypt, Nubia, and the Near East.
Fall Signature Night: Picasso, Miró, Dalí ► Wednesday 11/4/26 ► Evening Step into the bold, experimental world of “Picasso, Miró, Dalí: Unbound,” where the artist’s book becomes a site of collaboration and invention. Hear from curators as they explore the livres d’artistes of Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and Salvador Dalí.
SMFA Breakfast ► Saturday 12/5/26 ► Morning ► SMFA Begin the day with coffee, pastries, and mimosas before visiting the SMFA Art Sale, featuring original work by students, alumni, faculty, and friends of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. This long-standing event has been a fixture in New England’s contemporary art scene for more than 40 years.
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Exhibition Opening: Renoir and Love ► Tuesday 2/23/27 ► Evening Get a special first look at “Renoir and Love” with Pierre Terjanian, Ann and Graham Gund Director, and Katie Hanson, William and Ann Elfers Curator of Paintings, Art of Europe.
Curatorial Dinner: Renoir and Love ► Thursday 3/4/27 ► Evening Experience the romance and radiance of “Renoir and Love,” a major exhibition exploring how Pierre-Auguste Renoir captured affection, friendship, and modern life. Hear an in-depth perspective from curator Katie Hanson, followed by a seated dinner. This event is ticketed with an additional fee.
The Art of Collecting: Japanese Art ► Thursday 4/8/27 ► Evening Gain insight into the collecting journey—from personal passion to museum acquisition—during this panel discussion led by Sarah Thompson, Terrie and Bradley Bloom Curator of Japanese Prints. The conversation explores how collections are built, shared, and preserved for future generations.
Winter Warmer: Scavenger Hunt
Spring Signature Night: Party Like the Greeks
► Saturday 1/23/27 ► Noon
► Tuesday 5/18/27 ► Evening
Join fellow Museum Council members for a spirited scavenger hunt through the Museum’s galleries, followed by a cozy reception. The winning team receives complimentary tickets to the Curatorial Dinner.
Raise a glass at an evening inspired by the art, rituals, and revelry of the ancient world. Phoebe Segal, Mary Bryce Comstock Senior Curator of Greek and Roman Art, uses objects from the Museum’s collection to share how the ancient Greeks gathered in celebration.
Fellow Level Also includes all Museum Council Member level events Connoisseurship Seminar
Collection Visit
► Tuesday 10/27/26 ► Evening
► Saturday 4/3/27 ► Afternoon ► Off Site
Sharpen your eye and deepen your appreciation for art at this perennial favorite. Choose two out of several tour options led by MFA curators and conservators, followed by a seated dinner in Koch Gallery.
Visit a private collection in which contemporary art, bold interiors, and thoughtful design converge. Featuring works by leading contemporary artists, alongside textiles and decorative arts, this experience offers an intimate look at a visually dynamic home.
An Evening with Suzanne Jackson ► Thursday 11/12/26 ► Evening This year’s Deborah and Martin Hale Visiting Artist Lecture features a conversation with acclaimed artist Suzanne Jackson and celebrated writer and scholar Imani Perry. Enjoy a tour of “Suzanne Jackson: What Is Love” before the lecture, and meet Jackson after the lecture at a reception celebrating her decades-long career. Co-organized with the Black Arts and Artists and The Contemporaries Curators Circles.
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One Curators Circles Event of Your Choice! Museum Council Fellows are invited to sample a complimentary Curators Circles event (see pages 22–32). E-mail curatorscircles@mfa.org to RSVP or for help selecting the Curators Circle that’s right for you.
Opposite page: Joan Miró, Le Lézard aux plumes d’or (The Lizard with Golden Feathers) (detail), published by Louis Broder, printed by Mourlot Frères, Paris, 1971. Illustrated book with 40 color lithographs (including wrapper front and cover); publisher’s vellum. Gift of Boris Fridman. © Successió Miró / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris 2026. This page: Suzanne Jackson, Migration (detail), 1998. Acrylic wash on gessoed canvas. Shah Garg Collection. © Suzanne Jackson, courtesy Ortuzar, New York; photo: Timothy Doyon.
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► Museum Council Levels and Benefits ► In Gratitude for Your Support • • • • • • • • • • • •
12 months of complimentary admission Early access to reserve special exhibition tickets Reciprocal admission benefits at select major art museums 15% discount at all MFA dining venues 10% discount at all Museum Shops, in person and online Up to a 40% discount on parking for Museum visits; complimentary parking for all Museum Council events Discounted tickets to lectures, courses, concerts, and films Additional daily $5 guest tickets equal to your free adult general admission allotment Invitations to members-only curator talks and programs Direct phone line and e-mail to Museum Council staff to answer questions and help plan visits Recognition in the Annual Report Additional benefits based on member level Museum Council benefits are nontransferable and subject to change.
Associate
Fellow
► $300 to $599/year
► $1,200 to $2,999/year
Ages 21–26 A discounted Museum Council membership for recent graduates and early career professionals.
Ages 21–45 An elevated level for young professionals who are ready to deepen their philanthropy and connection to the MFA. Includes all benefits at the Member level, plus:
• Complimentary daily general admission for four adults and four youths (ages 7–17) • Four tickets for each special exhibition • Invitations to all Museum Council Member events (admits two) • $300 per person is not tax deductible
• Complimentary daily general admission for up to six adults and four youths (ages 7–17) • Eight tickets for each special exhibition • Opportunity to learn more about the collections by joining Curators Circles (see page 22) • Opportunities to travel with MFA curators
Member
• Invitations to exclusive Museum Council Fellow events (admits two)
► $600 to $1,199/year
• $450 per person is not tax deductible
Ages 21–45 An opportunity to meet fellow young professionals with an enthusiasm for art. • Complimentary daily general admission for four adults and four youths (ages 7–17) • Six tickets for each special exhibition • Invitations to all Museum Council Member events (admits two) • $300 per person is not tax deductible
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Join or renew 617-369-3268 museumcouncil@mfa.org mfa.org/council
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Event Tips
Excited to Share Your Love of Art?
Invitations to Museum Council events are sent by e-mail only. Please provide a valid e-mail address and cell phone number so you don’t miss any invitations, event reminders, or updates. Complimentary parking validation is offered at all on-site, scheduled Museum Council events.
Museum Council membership makes for a creative gift for young art lovers to enjoy all year long. Perfect for birthdays, holidays, graduations, and other milestone moments. Contact us to learn more!
Flexible Ways to Give
Museum Council events are complimentary with your membership unless otherwise noted; however, space at these events is limited and not guaranteed. The event schedule is subject to change. Each membership admits two people per invitation.
You have the option to fulfill your membership gift in 12 monthly installments. When you join or renew online, you can choose Automatic Renewal. Contact the Museum Council office for more information.
Meetups
Increase Your Impact with a Matching Gift!
Are you interested in meeting other members around the Boston area? In addition to our official calendar of events, members of the Museum Council periodically host meetups—chances to connect with each other and experience art in casual social settings. Information about upcoming gatherings is sent by e-mail. Members interested in hosting a meetup should contact the Museum Council office.
Your company may double or triple your Museum Council membership gift. To see if your company will match your donation, visit mfa.org/give/matching-gifts, and check with your employer’s human resources department for further details.
Choose Your Circle Museum Council Fellows are eligible to join Curators Circles. Choose from 14 groups to take a deeper look into collection areas. See page 22 for more information. You can also reach out to curatorscircles@mfa.org for help selecting the Curators Circle that’s right for you. 19
►►► Travel
Pack your suitcase for an art adventure Led by the Museum’s renowned curators, our exclusive travel opportunities offer global insights on art, history, and culture. Go behind the scenes with our curators at world-class museums, access spectacular private collections, meet artists in their studios, enjoy fine cuisine, and leave the planning to us. Current members at the following levels are eligible to participate in MFA Travel: • Museum Council Fellow • Patron Member and above For each travel opportunity, priority registration is offered to Patrons at the Director’s Circle level and above, as well as to members of the Curators Circle(s) of the respective curator(s) leading the trip. For more information, including trip itineraries and pricing, please contact MFA Travel at 617-369-3744 or mfatravel@mfa.org. Every effort is made to adhere to the dates, pricing, and curatorial participants as listed; however, circumstances beyond our control might force changes or substitutions. The MFA reserves the right to make any necessary alterations to tours or to cancel tours due to inadequate registrations. We urge travelers not to book nonrefundable airfare until the tours have been confirmed by the Museum. In the event of a tour cancellation, any fees paid to the Museum or its travel partners will be refunded in full.
► Questions? ► 617-369-3744 ► mfatravel@mfa.org ► Questions? ► 617-369-3744 ► mfatravel@mfa.org ► Questions?
► Travel
Journeys Venice Biennale and Milan
Maastricht and TEFAF
► Friday 10/23–Wednesday 10/28/26
► Wednesday 3/10–Sunday 3/14/27
Experience the 61st Venice Biennale with Ian Alteveer, Beal Family Chair, Department of Contemporary Art, in partnership with Tony Worcester of Patron Travel. Explore national pavilions, exhibitions, and curated highlights across the city. Travelers have the option to continue their trip in Milan for exclusive private collection visits and curated experiences.
Make your way to The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) Maastricht to delve into one of the world’s most prestigious art fairs on this highly anticipated annual trip. Join MFA curatorial staff, including Frederick Ilchman, Mrs. Russell W. Baker Curator of Paintings and chair, Art of Europe, in partnership with the Cultivist, for expert-led access to exceptional fine art, antiques, and design, and dine at Maastricht’s top restaurants.
Houston ► Friday 11/6–Monday 11/9/26 Head down to Texas with Christina Michelon, Pamela and Peter Voss Curator of Prints and Drawings, in partnership with Artful Jaunts, to celebrate the opening of the MFA Boston’s own “Of Light and Air: Winslow Homer in Watercolor” at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The visit includes stops at the Menil Collection, Rothko Chapel, and exclusive private collections!
Los Angeles This two-part trip to Los Angeles, in partnership with Artful Jaunts, explores the city’s dynamic art scene. Part 1 ► Thursday 1/14–Saturday 1/16/27 Led by Ethan Lasser, chief of Curatorial Affairs and Conservation, part one of this trip focuses on the opening of the new David Geffen Galleries at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), highlighting American art and innovative curatorial approaches in Los Angeles. Part 2 ► Sunday 1/17–Tuesday 1/19/27 Led by Christina Yu Yu, Matsutaro Shoriki Chair, Art of Asia, and Laura Weinstein, Ananda Coomaraswamy Curator of South Asian and Islamic Art, this part centers on LA’s vibrant Asian art scene, with visits to private collections, galleries, and new installations at LACMA.
London ► Wednesday 3/31–Monday 4/5/27 Journey across the pond to London with Betsy Dospěl Williams, Penny Vinik Chair of Fashion, Textiles, and Jewelry, and Erica Hirshler, Croll Senior Curator of American Paintings, in partnership with Tony Worcester of Patron Travel, for a preview of “Mary Cassatt: I Am Independent” at the National Portrait Gallery before the MFA’s own presentation. The trip also includes a once-ina-lifetime viewing of the legendary Bayeux tapestry at the British Museum.
Sicily ► Thursday 5/6–Thursday 5/13/27 Travel through Sicily with Anastasia Christophilopoulou, George D. and Margo Behrakis Chair, Art of Ancient Greece and Rome, and Frederick Ilchman, Mrs. Russell W. Baker Curator of Paintings and chair, Art of Europe, in partnership with the Cultivist, on a journey spanning archeological sites, world-class museums, and historic cities shaped by centuries of cultural exchange. Blending art, antiquity, and local culture and cuisine, this trip offers a rich and immersive experience of Sicily.
Big Ben and Westminster Bridge at dusk, London, UK, 2015. iStock: bukki88.
► 617-369-3744 ► mfatravel@mfa.org ► Questions? ► 617-369-3744 ► mfatravel@mfa.org ► Questions? ► 617-369-
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Curators Circles Dive deeper
Curators Circles invite you to dive deeper into the MFA’s collections while also supporting the crucial work of our curatorial departments. Featuring collection-focused programs, these intimate groups offer the opportunity to build relationships with curators and fellow enthusiasts in behind-the-scenes settings. Curators Circles members provide vital funding to help respective departments and curators with their goals and ambitions, such as acquisitions, exhibitions, research, and travel.
Gisela Charfauros McDaniel, Tiningo’ si Sirena, 2021. Oil on canvas, clothing, objects from subject-collaborator, shells, pearls, sound. Irving W. and Charlotte F. Rabb Acquisition Fund for the Department of Contemporary Art. © Gisela McDaniel; Courtesy of the artist and Pilar Corrias, London. Photo courtesy of Pierce Harman Photography.
► Questions? ► 617-369-3548 ► curatorscircles@mfa.org ► mfa.org/curatorscircles ► Questions? ► 617-369-3548 ► cura
► Curators Circles
Members of the following programs are invited to add on Curators Circles: ► All members of the Patron Program ► Museum Council Fellows ► Advocates The annual contribution to join a Curators Circle is $1,500*, which entitles two people to four unique curator-led events and excursions, and one combined event for all Curators Circles members. Dates, times, venues, and events are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, visit mfa.org/curatorscircles. * $100 per person is not tax deductible.
Images courtesy of Pierce Harman Photography.
atorscircles@mfa.org ► mfa.org/curatorscircles ► Questions? ► 617-369-3548 ► curatorscircles@mfa.org ► mfa.org/cur
► Curators Circles Events
An Evening for All Curators Circles The Making of a Traveling Exhibition: Mary Cassatt ► Tuesday 2/9/27 ► Afternoon ► Virtual The MFA invites all Curators Circles members to join Erica Hirshler, Croll Senior Curator of American Paintings, alongside the MFA’s curatorial partners from the Musée d’Orsay, Paris, and the National Portrait Gallery, London, for a conversation on the exhibition “Mary Cassatt: I Am Independent,” opening at the MFA in summer 2027. Offering insight into an international project, the curators discuss how Cassatt’s work was received during her time and how it is remembered today in each partner country. Learn how the curators developed their shared vision and brought it to life, from securing loans to adapting interpretation and designing spaces for each venue. 24
Art of the Americas Jane Kamensky Lecture Reception ► Sunday 10/4/26 ► Afternoon Join us for an afternoon with Jane Kamensky, professor at Harvard University and president and CEO of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia home. Dr. Kamensky speaks about how institutions navigate the tension between long-held national narratives and more complex, inclusive understandings of the past. Enjoy a private reception with Dr. Kamensky after the public lecture.
Sip the Boston Tea Party ► Thursday 3/25/27 ► Evening Taste the types of teas protestors threw overboard during the Boston Tea Party and learn about the role of tea and tea drinking in the British North American colonies from tea blender, writer, and historian Bruce Richardson. Richardson explores the origins and proliferation of tea in the 18th century, with particular focus on the drink’s presence in Boston. Get a taste of history!
Deep Dive: Asian Art in America ► Thursday 5/20/27 ► Afternoon Join fellow Curators Circles members for an exciting joint program tracing the profound influence of Asian art on American taste. Tour the new Asian Styles in the Americas gallery on level one and the Aesthetic movement gallery on level two, then gather for an intimate close-looking session with the Chinese and Japanese artworks that inspired the concepts for both galleries. Co-organized with Ginkgo Society.
Excursion: Treasures of Coastal Maine ► Saturday 6/5–Sunday 6/6/27 ► Maine Maine’s landscape has played a pivotal role in shaping American art, from long histories of Native works to contemporary makers. The state’s harsh beauty inspired painters like Frederic Edwin Church and Winslow Homer, and became a haven for 20thcentury modernists working in a variety of media. Our journey encompasses a range of materials, makers, and museums—and at least one fine meal!
Black Arts and Artists America at 250 ► Thursday 10/1/26 ► Evening Join a focused tour of the new 18th-century galleries on the first floor of the Art of the Americas Wing, then celebrate the MFA’s extraordinary holdings of American art by viewing a selection of works on paper that underscore the fresh approaches and diverse stories of what constitutes American art today. Co-organized with Prints and Drawings.
An Evening with Suzanne Jackson ► Thursday 11/12/26 ► Evening This year’s Deborah and Martin Hale Visiting Artist Lecture features a conversation with acclaimed artist Suzanne Jackson and celebrated writer and scholar Imani Perry. Enjoy a tour of “Suzanne Jackson: What Is Love” before the lecture, and meet Jackson after the lecture at a reception celebrating her decades-long career. Co-organized with The Contemporaries and the Museum Council.
Day Trip: Harvard Square ► Tuesday 4/6/27 ► All Day ► Harvard Square Take part in exclusive visits to study rooms, archives, and galleries across Harvard’s campus to view photographs and works on paper by Black artists in the university’s collection. With curators and special collection librarians as your guides, explore the depth and variety of holdings at Harvard’s Fogg Museum and Houghton Library, with a midday break for lunch in Harvard Square.
Sonya Clark ► Friday 6/18/27 ► Evening Join us in conversation with artist Sonya Clark, whose multidisciplinary work— grounded in fiber and craft practices— explores the African diaspora. Oftentimes using hair or found fabric, her work reframes history, elevates untold stories, and encourages rich dialogue. Opposite page: Mary Stevenson Cassatt, Breakfast in Bed, 1897. Oil on canvas. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Gift of the Virginia Steele Scott Foundation. © 2026, Courtesy of The Huntington Art Museum, San Marino, California. This page: Unidentified artists, Folding screen (biombo) (in situ), Mexican, mid-18th century. Oil on wood panels. Henry H. and Zoe Oliver Sherman Fund.
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► Curators Circles Events Conservation and Collections Up Close: Mary Cassatt ► Thursday 9/10/26 ► Evening The MFA is fortunate to have six paintings in the collection by Mary Cassatt. Because these works are often on view, there has been little opportunity to study them— until now. In preparation for next summer’s exhibition, conservators have conducted technical research on these works. Join them as they share new discoveries about the materials and techniques of Cassatt.
Illuminating Light-Based Artworks ► Friday 12/11/26 ► Evening What happens when light-based artworks age? Explore the technical and conceptual challenges addressed in recent projects, from a large-scale neon work to an incandescent-bulb installation. Learn how conservators contend with aging materials and obsolete parts to ensure that these artworks continue to shine. Co-organized with The Contemporaries.
Behind the Scenes: Arts of Japan Preview ► Wednesday 2/3/27 ► Afternoon The MFA’s Arts of Japan galleries are undergoing renovations for a reopening in late spring 2027. Join curators and conservators for a sneak peek at some of the rotation highlights, including woodblock prints, folding screens, swords, and costumes. This is a great chance to learn about the conservation undertaken to prepare these works for display. Co-organized with Ginkgo Society.
Revisiting Renoir: A Labor of Love ► Wednesday 3/3/27 ► Afternoon Rhona MacBeth, Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Director of Conservation and Scientific Research and Head of Paintings Conservation, and Katie Hanson, William and Ann Elfers Curator of Paintings, Art of Europe, provide an insightful look at the organizing of “Renoir and Love,” and share new learnings about the artist’s creative process. Tour the exhibition after the talk. Co-organized with Swan Society.
The Contemporaries An Evening with Suzanne Jackson ► Thursday 11/12/26 ► Evening This year’s Deborah and Martin Hale Visiting Artist Lecture features a conversation with acclaimed artist Suzanne Jackson and celebrated writer and scholar Imani Perry. Enjoy a tour of “Suzanne Jackson: What Is Love” before the lecture, and meet Jackson after the lecture at a reception celebrating her decades-long career. Co-organized with Black Arts and Artists and the Museum Council.
Illuminating Light-Based Artworks ►Friday 12/11/26 ► Evening What happens when light-based artworks age? Explore the technical and conceptual challenges addressed in recent projects, from a large-scale neon work to an incandescent-bulb installation. Learn how conservators contend with aging materials and obsolete parts to ensure that these artworks continue to shine. Co-organized with Conservation and Collections.
A Day in Cambridge: Local Artists and Collectors ► Saturday 4/24/27 ► All Day ► Greater Boston Join the curatorial team to uncover hidden gems across the Charles River with visits to artist studios and private collections in Cambridge and Somerville. After this feast for the eyes, we come together over a shared meal to celebrate the creative voices shaping our local contemporary scene.
Excursion: The Hudson Valley ►Saturday 5/22–Sunday 5/23/27 ► Hudson Valley On this relaxed getaway to the Hudson Valley, explore the landscape that once inspired distinguished painters of the Hudson River School and continues to nurture vibrant artist communities today. Through private tours of regional contemporary collections, studios, and historic sites, we consider why the Hudson Valley remains a vital and enduring creative hub. 26
Fashion Council
Ginkgo Society
Stories on the Planet: Asagi Maeda
A Thousand Years of Cloudy Mountains
► Friday 10/2/26 ► Morning ► Fuller Craft Museum
► Thursday 9/17/26 ► Afternoon
Asagi Maeda’s Train Story (2008) necklace has been a visitor favorite in “Beyond Brilliance: Jewelry Highlights from the Collection.” This fall the celebrated Japanese jewelry artist’s work is on view in “Stories on the Planet: Asagi Maeda” at Fuller Craft Museum. Join us for a curator-led tour followed by a special lunch and Q and A with the artist. Co-organized with Threads.
Excursion: New York City Jewelry Week ► Wednesday 11/18–Thursday 11/19/26 ► NYC Journey to the Big Apple for the dazzling NYC Jewelry Week. With dozens of events taking place around the city, you have many chances to meet artists, visit exhibitions, and see spectacular fashion and jewelry by both established designers and rising stars.
Anything Goes: American Style in Uncertain Times, 1929–39 ► Thursday 5/13/27 ► Evening Step back in time with a rare reveal of curatorial research into jewelry, fashion, and textiles of the 1930s—an era of economic and political turmoil across the globe that miraculously birthed some of the most extraordinary designs in modern history. Join us to see masterpieces from the MFA collection with a special reception to follow. Co-organized with Threads.
Cloudy Mountains is a landmark style in Chinese painting that radically unites technique, theme, and philosophy. It prioritizes spontaneous expression and amorphous ink washes to capture fleeting light and mist. Alan Yeung, Zhou Family Curator of Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy, provides a tour of the upcoming Cloudy Mountains rotation, which brings together treasures from the MFA collection that trace this millennium-long tradition.
Up Close: Naoko Matsubara and Kawada Kikuji ► Thursday 10/29/26 ► Evening Two of this year’s exhibitions highlight living Japanese-born artists: woodblock print artist Naoko Matsubara and photographer Kawada Kikuji. Join the curators behind each exhibition, Sarah Thompson, Terrie and Bradley Bloom Curator of Japanese Prints, and Asako Katsura, assistant curator for Japanese art, for private gallery tours and a fresh perspective on contemporary Japanese artists.
Behind the Scenes: Arts of Japan Preview ► Wednesday 2/3/27 ► Afternoon The MFA’s Arts of Japan galleries are undergoing renovations for a reopening in late spring 2027. Join curators and conservators for a sneak peek at some of the rotation highlights, including woodblock prints, folding screens, swords, and costumes. This is a great chance to learn about the conservation undertaken to prepare these works for display. Co-organized with Conservation and Collections.
Deep Dive: Asian Art in America ► Thursday 5/20/27 ► Afternoon Join fellow Curators Circles members for an exciting joint program tracing the profound influence of Asian art on American taste. Tour the new Asian Styles in the Americas gallery on level one and the Aesthetic movement gallery on level two, then gather for an intimate close-looking session with the Chinese and Japanese artworks that inspired the concepts for both galleries. Co-organized with Art of the Americas.
Boston’s Hidden Gem: Michael Robinson ►Thursday 6/3/27 ►Afternoon ► Seaport We invite you to the studio of the New Zealand–born artist Michael Robinson, who renders colorful drawings, cuts and carves rare gemstones, and crafts metal with precision. Our visit includes a look at Robinson’s life and work, finishing with a toast and the chance to do some art making of your own!
Opposite page: Suzanne Jackson: “What Is Love” (installation view, SFMOMA); photo: Don Ross. This page, top to bottom: Naoko Matsubara, The Present, 2020. Woodcut. Francis Welch Fund, Towles Contemporary Art Fund, and Edward S. Morse Memorial Fund. © Naoko Matsubara; Asagi Maeda, Train Story (detail), 2008. Sterling silver, gold (18k), synthetic resin. Gift of Tuan Lee. © Asagi Maeda.
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► Curators Circles Events Laurel Society Brettman Memorial Lecture Reception: Professor Robin Osborne ► Thursday 9/24/26 ► Evening Professor Robin Osborne, epigraphist and distinguished British historian of classical antiquity, gives this year’s Estelle Shohet Brettman Memorial Lecture: Dionysos and Theatre in Ancient Athens. In the lecture, Professor Osborne bridges ancient Greek art and material culture with historical inquiry, illuminating how objects, images, and landscapes reveal the complexities of the ancient Greek world. Join Professor Osborne for a reception following the public lecture.
Jasmine Society Curator’s Choice: Ten Treasures from the MFA’s South Asian Art Collection ► Friday 10/16/26 ► Evening From an ancient cache of miniscule beads to an indigo-dyed page from a Jain manuscript, the MFA’s collection of South Asian art contains many precious objects with intriguing stories. Laura Weinstein, Ananda Coomaraswamy Curator of South Asian and Islamic Art, chooses ten objects from the collection for you to examine—some of which are rarely or never displayed.
Excursion: Washington, DC ► Saturday 11/7–Sunday 11/8/26 ► Washington, DC Washington, DC, is home to some of the nation’s best collections of South Asian and Islamic art. This September, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art opens “From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic Art,” a rare exhibition of unparalleled works. Enjoy a guided tour of the remarkable exhibition, a study session at George Washington University’s Textile Museum, and a visit to a private collection of Indian art.
Private Collection Visit: Arabic Calligraphy from Turkey and the Ottoman Empire ► Sunday 2/21/27 ► Afternoon ► Off Site Turkey has been a key hub for the teaching and making of Arabic calligraphy since the 15th century and remains so today. During this Boston-area excursion, learn about a private collector’s decades-long project to acquire works by master artists and their students, see and handle examples of distinctive forms developed in the Ottoman Empire, and discover what Turkey’s top calligraphers are making right now.
“Jamdani”: Remembering and Reviving One of India’s Finest Textile Traditions ► Sunday 4/11/27 ► Morning Jamdani textiles, delicate floral muslins woven in Bengal, were once “the envy of the globe,” until British colonial policies destroyed the industry. Hear about how a multidisciplinary team led by Abhijit Banerjee, MIT’s Nobel Prize–winning economist, and French illustrator Cheyenne Olivier is reviving the craft and retelling the story of Jamdani. Co-organized with Threads.
This page, top to bottom: Calligraphy by Hâfız Osman, Page with illuminated calligraphy, Hadith (sayings of the prophet Muhammad), 17th century. Ink, color and gold on paper; marbled paper. Helen and Alice Coburn Fund; Attributed to Douris, drinking cup (kylix) with Dionysiac scenes, Greek, late Archaic or early Classical period, about 480 BCE. Ceramic, red-figure technique. Gift of Mrs. Samuel Torrey Morse. Opposite page: Unknown artist, sculptor’s trial piece with face of King Akhenaten, Egyptian, New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Akhenaten, 1349–1336 BCE. Limestone. Egypt Exploration Society by subscription.
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Vasilis Kostas: The Greek “Laouto” ► Sunday 11/22/26 ► Afternoon Vasilis Kostas is a Grammy-nominated laouto player, composer, and educator known for introducing the laouto (a traditional Greek instrument) into contemporary contexts. Following his public performance on the MFA’s laouto, join Kostas for a private lecture, demonstration, and reception to learn more about the history of the instrument. Co-organized with Musical Instruments.
Ruth Allen: Women Artists and Female Craft in Greece and Rome ► Wednesday 1/13/27 ► Noon Ruth Allen is curator of Greek and Roman Art at the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University. In this lecture, she explores how traditional histories of Greek and Roman art privilege named male artists, while women’s contributions are largely overlooked. Allen focuses on women’s roles as makers, patrons, and self-fashioners and highlights female creativity and technical skill in the ancient Mediterranean.
Day Trip: The Met’s “Across Wine-Dark Seas” ► Friday 3/5/27 ► All Day ► The Met Travel with us to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, for a special tour of “Across Wine-Dark Seas: Art and Identity Beyond Ancient Greece.” This landmark exhibition explores the extraordinary skill and creativity of Greek artists during the 8th to early 5th centuries BCE—when the Greeks left their homeland for far-flung places across the Mediterranean Sea and beyond—and features important loans from the MFA’s collection.
Lotus Society
The Secret Life of Statues
Private Tour: Maverick Kings
King Menkaura lived at the height of the Pyramid Age and is the subject of many statues here at the MFA. Hear Egyptologist (and Lotus Society member) Dr. Florence Friedman discuss how these statues interacted with one another at Menkaura’s Valley Temple at Giza. Dr. Friedman analyzes the iconography and inscriptions regarding the king’s Heb Sed (jubilee) and coronation festivals.
► Thursday 10/8/26 ► Evening Join Lawrence Berman, John F. Cogan Jr. and Mary L. Cornille Chair, Art of Ancient Egypt, Nubia, and the Near East, for a private tour of “Maverick Kings: Three Visionary Pharaohs of Egypt’s Golden Age,” which draws primarily from the MFA’s extensive collection of ancient Egyptian art, one of the largest and most important in the world.
► Thursday 3/18/27 ► Evening
Music from Ancient Meroë: Reconstructing Queen Herman Memorial Lecture Reception: Hourig Sourouzian Amanishakheto’s Auloi
► Saturday 12/5/26 ► Afternoon
► Wednesday 5/5/27 ► Noon
Don’t miss a private reception with Dr. Hourig Sourouzian, Egyptologist, art historian, and director of the Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project in Luxor, Egypt, after she gives this year’s Barbara W. Herman Memorial Lecture.
Celebrate the completion of a 12-year-long research and conservation project on the auloi of the ancient city of Meroë and the culmination of these findings in Music from Ancient Meroë: Reconstructing Queen Amanishakheto’s Auloi (2026). Hear the sounds of these ancient wind instruments and a presentation from two of the authors: Susanne Gänsicke, senior conservator and department head of Antiquities Conservation at the Getty Villa, and Denise Doxey, the MFA’s Norma Jean Calderwood Curator of Ancient Egyptian, Nubian, and Near Eastern Art. Co-organized with Musical Instruments.
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► Curators Circles Events Tour of Symphony Hall ► Wednesday 3/10/27 ► Afternoon ► Symphony Hall Join us for an exclusive backstage tour of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s (BSO) Symphony Hall. Bridget Carr, the BSO’s Blanche and George Jones Director of Archives and Digital Collections, dives into the hall’s construction, and Mark Rau, assistant professor of Music Technology at MIT, offers insight into its acoustical properties.
Music from Ancient Meroë: Reconstructing Queen Amanishakheto’s Auloi ► Wednesday 5/5/27 ► Noon
Musical Instruments Vasilis Kostas: The Greek “Laouto” ► Sunday 11/22/26 ► Afternoon Vasilis Kostas is a Grammy-nominated laouto player, composer, and educator known for introducing the laouto (a traditional Greek instrument) into contemporary contexts. Following his public performance on the MFA’s laouto, join Kostas for a private lecture, demonstration, and reception to learn more about the history of the instrument. Co-organized with Laurel Society.
Art in Tune ► Thursday 1/21/27 ► Evening Delight in a sneak preview of Art in Tune with a performance in 465 Bar and Restaurant before the event’s official start. Following the performance, enjoy a private reception with fellow Musical Instruments members and make your way through the musical presentations across the Museum.
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Celebrate the completion of a 12-year-long research and conservation project on the auloi of the ancient city of Meroë and the culmination of these findings in Music from Ancient Meroë: Reconstructing Queen Amanishakheto’s Auloi (2026). Hear the sounds of these ancient wind instruments and a presentation from two of the authors: Susanne Gänsicke, senior conservator and department head of Antiquities Conservation at the Getty Villa, and Denise Doxey, the MFA’s Norma Jean Calderwood Curator of Ancient Egyptian, Nubian, and Near Eastern Art. Co-organized with Lotus Society.
Photography Exploring Photobooks with MassArt Photographers ► Tuesday 9/22/26 ► Evening ► MassArt Visit Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) to view a wide range of contemporary photobooks presented by several faculty members and some of the artists themselves. Together we explore the materials and techniques that go into making these beautifully designed works and discuss the central role photobooks will play in the future of the medium.
Excursion: Photography Fair ► Fall 2026 ► Off Site Meet up with curators and fellow members to explore a photography fair as well as studio and collection visits. More details to come!
Kawada Kikuji: Chizu (The Map) ► Thursday 2/25/27 ► Evening With his renowned photobook, Chizu (The Map) (1965), published on the 20th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Kawada Kikuji began his journey of trying to make sense of the world through the lens of his camera. Hear a discussion between Maggie J. Mustard, assistant curator of Photography at the New York Public Library, and Asako Katsura, the MFA’s assistant curator for Japanese art, about Japanese photography during the 1960s. Following the talk, join MFA curators to view prints in the collection.
Intersections: The Photomechanical Revolution of the 19th Century ► Thursday 5/6/27 ► Evening MFA curators and conservators lead close-looking sessions in the Morse Study Room and Pamela and Peter Voss Conservation Seminar Room at some of the most important photomechanical collections in the country. Discover rare and unique works that record the intersection between printmaking and photography in the late 19th century. Co-organized with Prints and Drawings.
Prints and Drawings America at 250 ► Thursday 10/1/26 ► Evening Join a focused tour of the new 18th-century galleries on the first floor of the Art of the Americas Wing, then celebrate the MFA’s extraordinary holdings of American art by viewing a selection of works on paper that underscore the fresh approaches and diverse stories of what constitutes American art today. Co-organized with Black Arts and Artists.
Up Close: Rembrandt ► Thursday 11/5/26 ► Evening The MFA houses one of the finest collections of Rembrandt’s prints in the United States. Following a private tour of the exhibition “Reality and Imagination: Rembrandt and the Jews in the Dutch Republic,” enjoy an unparalleled chance to get up close with some of Rembrandt’s most famous works and learn why he is frequently regarded as one of the greatest printmakers of all time.
Day Trip: Wellesley ► Friday 3/19/27 ► All Day ► Wellesley Wellesley College is home to many artistic riches, which you can find at the campus’s Davis Museum and Book Arts Lab. Tour these sites with fellow members, stop for lunch, and enjoy a private collection visit in the area.
Intersections: The Photomechanical Revolution of the 19th Century ► Thursday 5/6/27 ► Evening MFA curators and conservators lead closelooking sessions in the Morse Study Room and Pamela and Peter Voss Conservation Seminar Room at some of the most important photomechanical collections in the country. Discover rare and unique works that record the intersection between printmaking and photography in the late 19th century. Co-organized with Photography.
Opposite page: Kawada Kikuji, LUCKY STRIKE (Rakkīsutoraiku) from the series Chizu (The Map), 1959–65, printed 1989. Gelatin silver print. Museum purchase with funds by exchange from the Bequest of Charles W. Millard III. Kawada Kikuji, courtesy of L. Parker Stephenson Photographs. This page: Joseph Savart, Woman from Guadeloupe with Blue and White Shawl (detail), 1769. Pastel on paper. Henry H. and Zoe Oliver Sherman Fund.
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► Curators Circles Events Swan Society
Excursion: The New Frick
Threads
► Friday 12/11–Saturday 12/12/26 ► NYC
Rembrandt and the Jews in the Dutch Republic ► Friday 9/18/26 ► Afternoon In the 17th century, Jews played a critical role in the vibrant visual culture of the Dutch Republic, particularly in the work of Rembrandt van Rijn. “Reality and Imagination: Rembrandt and the Jews in the Dutch Republic” is the Center for Netherlandish Art’s latest exhibition, in collaboration with Boston University (BU). Cocurators Simona Di Nepi, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Curator of Judaica, and Michael Zell, BU’s professor of History of Art and Architecture delve into the exhibition.
20th-Century Movements: Cubism and Surrealism ► Friday 10/30/26 ► Evening Join Claire Howard, Hansjörg Wyss Curator of Modern Art, and Frederick Ilchman, Mrs. Russell W. Baker Curator of Paintings and chair, Art of Europe, for a look at two influential artistic movements of the 20th century: Cubism and Surrealism. This deep dive times well with the Museum’s current focus on European modernism.
Enjoy an art-filled weekend in New York City. Friday brings a visit to the Museum of Modern Art and an elegant group dinner. The next morning, enjoy special access to the newly renovated Frick Collection before public hours. We then make our way to Sotheby’s, an iconic building that previously housed the Whitney Museum of American Art and Frick Madison. Curators Circles members are responsible for their own transportation and lodging.
Revisiting Renoir: A Labor of Love
Stories on the Planet: Asagi Maeda ► Friday 10/2/26 ► Morning ► Fuller Craft Museum Asagi Maeda’s Train Story (2008) necklace has been a visitor favorite in “Beyond Brilliance: Jewelry Highlights from the Collection.” This fall the celebrated Japanese jewelry artist’s work is on view in “Stories on the Planet: Asagi Maeda” at Fuller Craft Museum. Join us for a curator-led tour followed by a special lunch and Q and A with the artist. Co-organized with Fashion Council.
► Wednesday 3/3/27 ► Afternoon
Day Trip: South Shore
Rhona MacBeth, Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Director of Conservation and Scientific Research and Head of Paintings Conservation, and Katie Hanson, William and Ann Elfers Curator of Paintings, Art of Europe, provide an insightful look at the organizing of “Renoir and Love,” and share new learnings about the artist’s creative process. Tour the exhibition after the talk. Co-organized with Conservation and Collections.
A short venture to Plymouth brings an immersive day of needlework narratives. From the Plimoth Jacket (2009), a painstaking recreation of fashionable 17th-century dress at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, to Pilgrim Hall Museum’s Plymouth Tapestry (ongoing), a multi-panel embroidery that illustrates the experiences of the Wampanoag people and the Pilgrims. Enjoy an exploration of this coastal community’s complex history through textiles, surprises, and delights.
Designed by Elizabeth Creeden, The Separatists (detail), panel six of the Plymouth Tapestry, ongoing. © Pilgrim Hall Museum, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
► Friday 11/13/26 ► All Day ► Plymouth
“Jamdani”: Remembering and Reviving One of India’s Textile Traditions ►Sunday 4/11/27 ► Morning Jamdani textiles, delicate floral muslins woven in Bengal, were once “the envy of the globe,” until British colonial policies destroyed the industry. Hear about how a multidisciplinary team led by Abhijit Banerjee, MIT’s Nobel Prize–winning economist, and French illustrator Cheyenne Olivier is reviving the craft and retelling the story of Jamdani. Co-organized with Jasmine Society.
Anything Goes: American Style in Uncertain Times, 1929–39 ► Thursday 5/13/27 ► Evening Step back in time with a rare reveal of curatorial research into jewelry, fashion, and textiles of the 1930s—an era of economic and political turmoil across the globe that miraculously birthed some of the most extraordinary designs in modern history. Join us to see masterpieces from the MFA collection with a special reception to follow. Co-organized with Fashion Council. 32
► Find the Level That’s Right for You
Museum Council Associate
Museum Council Member
Museum Council Fellow
Advocate
Patron Member
$300
$600
$1,200
$1,200
$3,000
$6,000 and above
21–26
21–45
21–45
All ages
All ages
All ages
A Good Fit For
Recent college graduates and early career professionals
Young professionals seeking community through art
Young professionals who want to deepen their engagement with art and philanthropy
Individuals who are new to elevated MFA membership and ready to increase philanthropic involvement
Committed supporters seeking a wide range of opportunities for deeper access and community connection
Committed supporters who want to make a deeper philanthropic impact and are seeking a more personal experience
Daily Admission Benefits
4 adults and 4 youths
4 adults and 4 youths
6 adults and 4 youths
6 adults and 4 youths
6 adults and 4 youths
6 adults and 4 youths
Special Exhibition Tickets
4
6
8
8
12
14 or more
Types of Events
All Museum Council Member events. See page 16.
Larger events with a All Museum Council focus on community, Member events networking, and plus three elevated building an appreciation experiences offering for art. See page 16. deeper engagement with curators, conservators, and artists. See pages 16–17.
A selection of Patron Member events (behind-the-scenes curatorial talks and one exhibition opening reception). See page 13.
An array of behindthe-scenes curatorial programs, from exhibition openings to lectures and interactive dinners. See page 6.
All Patron Member programs plus two or more intimate experiences. See pages 6–8.
Access to Curators Circles*
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Access to MFA Travel
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Patron Fellow and Above
*Curators Circles offer deeper engagement with the MFA’s curators and collections in an intimate community. Each Circle is an additional annual gift of $1,500, which directly supports the respective collection area.
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