For any art lover, culture enthusiast or curious mind, there are a variety of gifts offered around the city that will pique your interest, including at the Barnes Museum.
The Barnes is a staple in the City of Brotherly Love, and its main mission as an art collection and educational institution is to promote the appreciation of art and horticulture under one roof. With their gifts being offered this holiday season, Philadelphians can now take that appreciation home with them, or explore the venue like never before.
Experience-wise, patrons can buy special tours (including private) of the museum’s new exhibit “Suzanne Valadon: Model, Painter, Rebel.” Tours range in time and dates (all information on scheduling can be found online). Prices also range anywhere from $22 to $60 depending on membership and which experience you choose. The exhibition reconsiders the life and legacy of the revolutionary artist and will be on view at the Barnes through Jan. 9.
Patrons can also bring home the experience themselves with a catalog ($50) that focuses on the unique role Valadon played within the Parisian art world. As a release states, seen in the 21st century, Valadon’s confrontational and witty works still challenge viewers with their unapologetic presentations of women’s bodies, female desire, and the conflicts of marriage and motherhood. Always faithful to figurative representation, she refused to follow artistic trends, developing a distinctive pictorial language characterized by decisive lines and bold coloration.
There are a few more trinkets to take home to ignite your creative senses through the Barnes: Also being offered are three Suzanne Valadon-inspired enamel pins (choose from three characters: Artist, Rebel, and Model) for $14.95 and a Valadon Violin Case colored pencil set ($19.95). This custom set of 12 artist-grade colored pencils is housed in a travel tin featuring “The Violin Case” by Valadon.
On top of the exhibit-centered offerings, those looking for unique and artful gifts can also set their sights on the museum’s SSD Jewelry Artemis Fringe earrings ($96) from North Carolina artist Melissa Lowry, a felted garden wool and silk wrap ($325) which was exclusively made for the Barnes and inspired by Suzanne Valadon’s color palette in “Reclining Nude,” a custom Barnes 300-piece puzzle ($24), a Henri Edmond Cross Seascape lamp ($95), “A Visit to the Barnes” coloring book ($16.95), a Barnes handbook ($19.95) with concise entries on 172 works in the collection, and much more.
As a release states, you can also give the gift of a Barnes class taught by the museum’s experts. The art lover in your life can uncover new and surprising insights about their favorite artists and art movements or learn something completely new either online or in-person. No homework required — just a curious mind. When you purchase a class as a gift, you will also receive a gift voucher that is redeemable for any class of your recipient’s choice. Finally, you can also give the gift of a Barnes membership where you’ll receive exclusive access to special programming, discounts, exhibition previews, and more.
For more information on the Barnes Museum (2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway) and the holiday gifts being offered, visit barnesfoundation.org
