The Object

Two Poets Go To Hell 06.07.2026 23min

It is one of the greatest artworks of the Italian Renaissance, and for the better part of a century it was rolled up in storage. A tapestry—the art form of popes, kings, and emperors—bigger than any painting that has ever come to America from 16th-century Italy. Made in the famous Medici gardens where the Renaissance was nurtured. Hidden away at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Until now. A story of power and glory, luck and determination—and Dante and Virgil, the two poets of "The Inferno" poised at the brink of hell in the tapestry. (Oh, and Beatrice, Dante's muse—she manages to get in the story, too.) A tapestry that is once again on view for a few months only. Until back to storage it goes. A big thank-you to Max Bryant, curator of European decorative art at Mia, who tells us of his incredible discovery, why tapestry is underrated, and more. You can see the tapestry from July 11, 2026, through January 31, 2027, in "Back from the Underworld" at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. And you can read more about Dante and Virgil's hellish meeting at Beatrice's behest in a fine analysis here by poet and scholar Diane Mehta.

The Woman in Black 22.06.2026 28min

Journalist Eric Kelsey was already familiar with "Sonja," the enigmatic portrait sometimes called the German Mona Lisa: a woman in black with short hair and cigarettes, sitting in a cafe. An iconic image of free-spirited Weimar Berlin almost since it was painted by Christian Schad in 1928. Then he realized who she really was. Kelsey has now spent years researching his connection to "Sonja" and the dramatic true story of a life of luck and love, cruelty and tragedy, as Weimar Germany gave way to Nazi Germany. A story of the individual human dramas behind big history—and who gets to tell them when the private becomes public. "Sonja" is the face of the groundbreaking traveling exhibition "Modern Art and Politics in Germany 1910–1945: Masterworks from the Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin". You can see her—and more than 70 other paintings and sculptures from the National Gallery of Germany—at the Minneapolis Institute of Art through July 19, 2026. Wherever you're listening, subscribe so you never miss an episode.

The Object LIVE! Talk Dürer to Me! 08.06.2026 58min

This electrifying, sold-out live show of The Object podcast was recorded May 21, 2026, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art with host Tim Gihring and very special musical guests from the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers with Philip Brunelle conducting and playing the virginal (we had the same question; you'll have to listen to find out). It's a celebration of the 555th birthday of Albrecht Dürer, with quizzes, storytelling, and curator conversation all about the greatest printmaker of the Renaissance—maybe of all time. Brunelle became a church organist at age 14, was one of the youngest musicians hired by the Minnesota Orchestra, and has led the VocalEssence choir—one of the country's most decorated—since 1969. Here, he leads a quartet in songs from Dürer's time and place, plays a quiz, and talks about his life in music. Mia Director and President Katie Luber explains why she has long been enamored of Dürer and the Renaissance. And Gihring tells the story of Dürer's remarkable life and art. A big thank-you to Brunelle, the VocalEssence quartet (Katie Boardman, Cat Terres, Andy McCullough, and David Gindra), and show runner Dexter Carlson, who donned a Tyrolean loden hat and made the magic happen for one of our most engaging shows yet. Please note: the musical segment was performed as acoustically as possible to maintain the historic nature of the work, so you may have to bump the volume up at that time. Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts (press the + sign on Apple Podcasts) and ensure you never miss an episode! Leave us a review, give us some stars, and watch for more live tapings soon!

Encore Episode: What Happened to the First Gay Art Star? 26.05.2026 24min

Simeon Solomon—bold, dashing, and openly gay—is a rising star in the Victorian art world when a scandal in 1873 supposedly forces him into obscurity, a cautionary tale for fans like Oscar Wilde. But the truth is more complicated and only now coming to light, revealing the fate of this forgotten figure as both more tragic and more inspiring. You can see an “allegorical self-portrait” here, from the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. You can see his haunting masterwork “Love in Autumn” here.

The Return of the Owl 11.05.2026 21min

In the 1940s, an heir to the Pillsbury flour fortune acquires an ancient Chinese bronze vessel, thousands of years old, in the form of an extremely charming owl. An instant visitor favorite at the Minneapolis Institute of Art—until, a couple of years ago, it falls from its perch. A story of the things we carry through time, what survives and what does not, and the recent miraculous resurrection of the Pillsbury Owl. You can see the charismatic owl here, in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and now once again on display in the museum itself. You can read more about oracle bones, an ancient fortune-telling practice that plays an important role in this story, here. Leave us a review, in stars or words, wherever you listen—it really does mean a lot. And please subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Encore Episode: The Photographer in Hitler's Bath 27.04.2026 23min

When World War II begins, Lee Miller is one of the most sought-after women in the world—a celebrated model, an irresistible muse, and an emerging photographer in her own right. So why does she trade the high life for the front line, risking everything to become the only female photojournalist allowed in combat? You can see photographs of Lee Miller in her modeling days—and photographs taken by Miller—here in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. You can read more about Miller in this recent New York Times profile based on a huge new retrospective of her work at the Tate in London: "The 9 Lives of Lee Miller." You can explore more art from the World War II era in "Modern Art and Politics in Germany 1910–1945," a special exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, through July 19, 2026. Tickets are now *sold out* for the next live taping of The Object podcast on May 21, 2026, at 7 p.m. at our home museum, the Minneapolis Institute of Art. BUT walk-ups are welcome, no cost, for general admission: simply come a little early, grab a seat and enjoy the show. It's “The Object LIVE! Talk Dürer to Me!” with musical guests Philip Brunelle and members of the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, curator conversation with Mia Director Katie Luber, quizzes, and of course storytelling. An irreverent romp through the Renaissance, featuring the art and life of the groundbreaking painter and printmaker Albrecht Dürer on his 555th birthday.

The Exile Who Never Left 13.04.2026 29min

In the early 1930s, Max Beckmann is the biggest thing in Germany, the übermensch of art with his larger-than-life paintings and ego to match, peering over a champagne glass at the beautiful free spirits in the cabarets. But when Hitler takes over, Beckmann is in his crosshairs, forced to choose between creative freedom and the country he loves. An epic story of war and resilience, the sweep of history and the struggle to realize our destiny. You can see some of Beckmann’s biggest, most electrifying work in the special exhibition “Modern Art and Politics in Germany 1910–1945: Masterworks from the Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin,” on view at Mia through July 19. Tickets are now *sold out* for the next live taping of The Object podcast on May 21, 2026, at 7 p.m. at our home museum, the Minneapolis Institute of Art. BUT walk-ups are welcome, no cost, for general admission: simply come a little early, grab a seat and enjoy the show. It's “The Object LIVE! Talk Dürer to Me!” with musical guests Philip Brunelle and members of the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, curator conversation with Mia Director Katie Luber, quizzes, and of course storytelling. An irreverent romp through the Renaissance, featuring the art and life of the groundbreaking painter and printmaker Albrecht Dürer on his 555th birthday.

Encore Episode: The Ghost of Hokusai 30.03.2026 25min

It is the stuff of legend: Claude Monet discovers Japanese art in the late 1800s, something clicks, and he goes on to become the most famous artist in the world. But one of his greatest influences on the other side of the earth is a mystery, the artist behind the “great wave” and hundreds of other iconic images. The artist who calls himself Hokusai (at least for a time)—and won't be nearly as lucky as Monet. You can see one of Monet’s paintings of the Japanese footbridge he built at Giverny here, in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. You can see hundreds of Hokusai’s prints in the collection, including the “great wave,” here. BIG NEWS! A new series of The Object LIVE!, our free live tapings of The Object podcast begins May 21 with "Talk Dürer to Me!" With fun quizzes, music, and of course storytelling, all about the quirky German genius Albrecht Dürer—on his 555th birthday—and the splendid weirdness of the Renaissance. Recorded live in the historic Pillsbury Auditorium at our home museum in Minneapolis. Tickets are absolutely free but you do need to have them, available starting April 21 on the Tickets page at Artsmia.org.

The Other Monet 16.03.2026 28min

It's the Season 8 premiere! Claude Monet, by the 1900s, is the most famous artist in the world, a singular genius (if not exactly genial). But there is another Monet: Blanche Hoschedé Monet. The only artist Claude Monet takes under his wing—and almost completely forgotten, until now. A story of what it means to be an artist, and what happens when your story is not your own. You can see Hoschedé Monet's 1888 Snow Effect landscape, recently acquired by the Minneapolis Institute of Art, here. BIG NEWS! A new series of The Object LIVE!, our free live tapings of The Object podcast begins May 21 with "Talk Dürer to Me!" With fun quizzes, music, and of course storytelling, all about the quirky German genius Albrecht Dürer—on his 555th birthday—and the splendid weirdness of the Renaissance. Recorded live in the historic Pillsbury Auditorium at our home museum in Minneapolis. Tickets are absolutely FREE, available starting April 21 at Artsmia.org. Leave us a review wherever you listen and subscribe so you never miss an episode as Season 8 gets rolling.

Encore Episode: Finding Fanny, the Model who Disappeared 09.03.2026 30min

New season begins March 16! Now, an encore episode that was our most popular story a few seasons ago. About a woman who was once of the most recognizable in the world, her long copper hair filling painting after painting, even if few people knew her name: Fanny Cornforth. Model, muse, and mistress to the most influential artists of the Victorian era, who she still had to fight for everything she got. Until, in the end, she lost the one thing she could count on for sure: herself. You can see her in this 1868 painting, "I know a maiden fair to see," in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode of the upcoming season, leave us a review, and visit our home museum if you're in the Twin Cities area: the Minneapolis Institute of Art, now showing "Modern Art and Politics in Germany 1910–1945."

Fireside Stories: Bursting, Twisting, Sticking, Spilling 23.02.2026 15min

Season 8 of The Object begins March 16! All-new episodes, bonus content, and more about the almost famous, the nearly lost, and more surprising true stories at the intersection of art and history. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode! Now, enjoy the second in our bonus series of Fireside Stories: The incredible, fast, and forgotten life of painter Bob Thompson. The original Basquiat, seeming to come out of nowhere with sold-out shows of his colorful remixes of Old Masters. Riding with the Beat poets in the race to live all of life all at once. And leaving behind several lifetimes' worth of work—in just a few years. You can see Thompson's Homage to Nina Simone, a reimagining of Nicolas Poussin's Bacchanal with Lute-Player, from about 1630, in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

The Object LOVE! Don't Go Breaking My Art! 12.02.2026 50min

This rollicking, sold-out live show of The Object podcast was recorded February 7, 2026, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art with host Tim Gihring and musical guest jeremy messersmith. It's our Valentine's show, with quizzes, storytelling, and curator conversation all about the gods in—and often out of—love. Messersmith, a NPR Tiny Desk alum whose new song F••• This has become a viral hit, performs a choice selection of tunes about our tragicomic relationship with the heart, plays a quiz, and talks about the ideal love song. European art curator Rachel McGarry explains why we remain enamored of classical myths. And Gihring spins a story of Eros and Psyche across thousands of years. A big thank-you to messersmith, McGarry, and show runner Dexter Carlson, who donned an inflatable plastic cupid-bear costume for her welcome remarks that probably should have remained petroleum. Our season 8 premiere is just weeks away in mid-March! Subscribe so you never miss an episode and keep an eye out for the next live taping sometime in May.

Encore Episode: The Curious Celebrity of God's Sculptor 09.02.2026 19min

One month to go until the new season of The Object premieres! Subscribe so you don't miss it, and in the meantime enjoy bonus and encore episodes like this one from early in The Object archives. William Edmondson is a middle-aged laborer in Nashville, Tennessee, at the height of the Great Depression, when God tells him to carve a tombstone. Soon, he's the first African American artist to have a solo show at the Museum of Modern Art, in New York. But his celebrity is strangely short-lived, and only much later does the real story of his rise and fall from the heights of the art world come to light. You can see one of his many sculptures of a ram, of the Dorset sheep variety local to Tennessee, in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Encore Episode: A Woman Called Wanda 26.01.2026 23min

Free tickets are going fast for the next live taping of The Object podcast with special guest jeremy messersmith on February 7 in Mia’s historic Pillsbury Auditorium. A Valentine's show with jeremy performing live, storytelling, and "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" style quizzes, all about the art of love. It’s The Object LIVE!—everything you love about the podcast, live on stage. Reserve your free tickets here or at the Tickets page at artsmia.org. Now on with the show: Wanda Gág was the original celebrity cat mom. The talented, bob-sporting, fiercely independent illustrator and author of Millions of Cats, a book that essentially invented the children’s genre and made her famous. She was every woman who liked men just fine but refused to build her life around them. Guest host Lizzi Ginsberg looks back at the surprising life and work she did create in the 1920s and ’30s, as she moved between Minnesota and New York. You can see Gág’s marvelous self-portrait now on view at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, along with Roaring Twenties art in “Gatsby at 100.” And many other prints by her in the collection.

Fireside Stories: The Gods of Compassion 15.01.2026 10min

Free tickets are going fast for our next live taping of The Object podcast with special guest musician Jeremy Messersmith, quizzes, and storytelling—all about the art of love. February 7 at 2PM in the historic Pillsbury Auditorium at our home museum, the Minneapolis Institute of Art. A place to come together in love, beauty, and reflection. Get tickets and details at the Tickets page at Artsmia.org. Now on with the show: Given the start to this year, we’re trying something—a series of bonus episodes called Fireside Stories. Slow down, get comfortable, and enjoy a short, reflective, AMSR-filled episode on the “gods of compassion,” the bodhisattvas who put others’ needs above their own, even if it means delaying their own nirvana. There are quite a number of bodhisattvas on view right now at the Minneapolis Institute of Art in the special exhibition “Royal Bronzes: Cambodian Art of the Divine,” on view through January 18.

Letter from Van Gogh: A New Year's Minisode 07.01.2026 11min

Big news: Free tickets are now available starting January 7 at 9:30 a.m. (CST) for the next live taping of The Object podcast. It's our Valentine's show on February 7 at 2 p.m. with special guest musician jeremy messersmith in the historic Pillsbury Auditorium at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The Object LOVE! Don't Go Breaking My Art! will include fun quizzes and prizes, music, curator conversation, and of course storytelling, all about the comedy and tragedy of the heart in love. It's an irreverent romp with Orpheus and Eurydice, Eros and Psyche, and other classical couples whose stories have long captured our imagination in art. Go to the Tickets page at artsmia.org and reserve your seats today! Now on with the show: On January 7, 1889, Vincent van Gogh wrote his family a New Year's letter. He had just been through one of the worst crises of his young life, which would become as much a part of his legend as his art. But Van Gogh was always able to see the silver lining—until he couldn't. A reflection on the hopes we pin to the start of the calendar, and the grace of letting go. You can see one of the many paintings of olive trees that he made as the year unfolded in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Encore Episode: How to Live Forever (or Die Trying) 29.12.2025 23min

NEWS! Tickets will be available starting January 7 for The Object LOVE!, our very Valentine's live show with special guest jeremy messersmith on February 7 in the Minneapolis Institute of Art's historic Pillsbury Auditorium. All about the gods in (and often out of) love, whose stories have long captured our imagination in art. Tickets are free but limited—go to the tickets page at the Mia website to reserve or for details. Now on with the show: No one lives forever. But that hasn’t stopped people from trying, and for a long time the noble way to avoid getting old and dying was to avoid getting old at all: the Greek notion of the “glorious death” that confers immortality in battle. It’s an idea that resurfaces throughout history—until it meets its match in a war of many deaths and little glory. You can see Kiss of Victory, the famous sculpture that kicks off this episode and launched the career of Sir Alfred Gilbert, in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

The Missing Tapestries of Helena Hernmarck 15.12.2025 26min

Brand-new episode: Swedish textile artist Helena Hernmarck became an international art star making monumental tapestries, an ancient art she gave a modern Pop Art twist starting in the 1960s. Some 260 commissioned works in all, often for corporate settings. But as the corporate world changed, and her tapestries changed hands, at least two dozen have gone missing. Now, at 84, she's scrambling to track them down, a rollicking story of international intrigue, celebrity, and what it means when culture is lost—and found. Also, big news! Tickets for the next taping of The Object LIVE! will be available starting January 7 on the Tickets page at artsmia.org. It's "The Object LOVE! Don't Go Breaking My Art!" with special guest musician jeremy messersmith, all about the gods in (and out of) love, from Orpheus and Eurydice to Eros and Psyche, with quizzes, music, and of course storytelling. Don't miss this special Valentine's edition of the podcast, recorded live at the Minneapolis Institute of Art auditorium on February 7 at 2PM. You can learn more about Hernmarck's art in the latest episode of Craft in America, airing December 19 on PBS. Hernmarck has long had a unique connection to Minnesota, and you can see more than 20 of Hernmarck's tapestries in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, a major repository of her work—including several rescued pieces. And you can see more Scandinavian craft in Mia's current show "Crowning the North," featuring Norwegian silver.

Encore Episode: A Christmas Conspiracy 01.12.2025 25min

Tickets will be available soon for The Object LOVE!, a very Valentine’s edition of our live taping of the podcast, happening February 7 at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, with quizzes, storytelling, and very special musical guest jeremy messersmith, all about the gods in (and out of) love! It’s good to be the pope in the 1600s. But staying pope is not so easy, as the famous Barberini family finds out when one of their own takes up the tiara in 1623. As Rome fills up with their art, and dungeons fill up with their enemies, can they survive the forces of change threatening their worldview—and the forces of the occult threatening to kill the pope on Christmas Day? You can read more about the art at Mia commissioned by the Barberini family, including Pope Urban VIII, here. And of course you can see it all over Rome—in the Piazza Barberini, the Palazzo Barberini, etc. Look closely at St. Peter’s Basilica and you may see the curious Barberini family crest—a trio of bees—on fountains, frames, and even the altar. You can read about its symbolism here.

The Object LIVE! Great Gatsby's Ghost! 17.11.2025 55min

This third sold-out live show of The Object podcast was recorded October 30, 2025, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art with special guest Chan Poling of The Suburbs and New Standards. Quizzes, storytelling, and curator conversation all centered on F. Scott Fitzgerald and his near-miraculous creation of The Great Gatsby, inspired by the cover art and a girl he met sledding in St. Paul. A big thank-you to Poling; Mia's Lori Williamson, who curated the "Gatsby at 100" exhibition; and the programs/AV team. You can see "Gatsby at 100" at Mia through March 22, 2026. And stay tuned to get your free tickets to the next edition of The Object LIVE! coming up on February 7.