Bisa Butler, the art world's rising star
/Artist's Magazine originally published my article on the art-world's rising star, Bisa Butler, in 2020 in their print edition. It is now available online at the Artist's Network.
Here you will find postings of recently published articles, book, film and exhibition reviews written by me. Occasionally I'll toss in a link to something of interest to practicing writers, artists, and filmmakers.
Artist's Magazine originally published my article on the art-world's rising star, Bisa Butler, in 2020 in their print edition. It is now available online at the Artist's Network.
My article on the history of presidential portraits for the print version of Artist's Magazine has now appeared on their digital Artist's Network. I learned a lot about the process of commissioning these important works in my research for this article.
https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-history/americas-presidents/?oly_enc_id=8020G9659290B1C
Sculpture Parks offer a truly immersive art experience and I discovered some great ones in writing this article published today in Art & Object.
https://www.artandobject.com/articles/why-how-and-where-sculpture-parks
Gauguin is not the first artist I think of when it comes to Christmas themed artwork. When I discovered this painting, I had to write about it for the Artist's Network.
https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-history/paul-gauguins-christmas-nig
I was surprised to find the archangel Gabriel appearing in art and literature across centuries and in many unexpected places in diverse cultures. He is a unifying figure in a very disjointed world. I loved writing about him for the Artist's Network. https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-history/the-archangel-gabriel-a-unifying-figure-across-centuries/
Today, Wednesday December 21st marks the winter solstice. This painting of a snow-laden lone pine seemed like a perfect symbol for such a moment. I wrote about it for the Artist's Network. https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-history/winter-solstice-in-the-wild-north/
Taking my granddaughters to the Boston Ballet's performance of The Nutcracker was a holiday tradition. Now my youngest is a ballet dancer who is on stage rather than in the audience. The story of the Nutcracker has also inspired some wonderful illustrators. I wrote about one of them recently for the Artist's Network: https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-history/the-nutcracker-ballet/
Here's a little blurb I wrote for the Artist's Network online newsletter about a great way to celebrate Kwanzaa. It starts this year on December 26th.
I wrote this short story for The Artist's Network about early Renaissance artist Fra Angelico's depictions of Saint Nicholas. His frescoes laid the groundwork for the Saint's evolution to the jolly old St. Nick we have come to know today.
As a child, long before I knew they were an important cultural enclave, I spent seemingly endless happy summers on the beaches of both the north and south fork of Long Island. It is with nostalgia and sweet remembrance that I was able to renew those memories in this article for Art & Object about the history of art in the Hamptons. https://www.artandobject.com/articles/enduring-legacy-art-and-artists-hamptons
It was an uplifting experience for me to write about these talented, hopeful, Afghan refugee artists who are living and working in Vermont. Their mural project, Honoring Honar took place in Brattleboro, Vermont this past summer and is featured in the November issue of Art New England. https://artnewengland.com/honoring-honar/
Art & Object has republished an article I originally wrote a year or more ago. I have as much fun researching these recommended films to watch listicles as I do writing them.
https://www.artandobject.com/news/7-films-about-art-cozy-fall
I was reluctant to take on this assignment as I thought an exhibition with a focus on the art of the Tudors would be too fusty, I had pitched a different article to my editors at Art & Object which was handed off to another writer. This turned out to be better than I expected:
https://www.artandobject.com/articles/tudors-art-and-majesty-renaissance-england
This was one of the most difficult pieces about trends in art that I have ever written. I think my viewpoint comes through, while being informative and not exposing me as a judgemental trilobite disconnected from today's real world art scene, which may be short lived. https://www.artandobject.com/articles/immersive-art-experiences-mix-art-money-and-hype
Lois Dodd is a dynamo! It was a great treat writing her profile for the Nov/Dec issue of Artist's Magazine. I interviewed her and wrote this before the opening of her show at the Hall Foundation in Reading Vermont. Luckily, I was able to review that show and it will appear in an upcoming issue of Art New England.
https://www.artistsnetwork.com/artist-profiles/unstoppable-the-enduring-art-of-lois-dodd/
Chesterwood, the former home and studio of American sculptor Daniel Chester French, best known for his rendering of the iconic Lincoln Memorial, now celebrating its 100th anniversary year, is a delightful museum, and a showcase for contemporary sculpture. If you haven't visited, I hope my article published in Art & Object peaks your interest.
https://www.artandobject.com/news/daniel-chester-french-lincoln-memorials-sculptor
Leon Golub made a tremendous impact on my work when I was a young artist studying at Boston University. Having the honor of reviewing his work now has not lessened that impact. Read my review in Art & Object of his powerful career-spanning exhibition now on view at Vermont's Hall Art Foundation.
https://www.artandobject.com/articles/leon-golub-dynamics-power
When this was written, I thought my experience would never be repeated. I am sad but proud that my essay, Roe vs Wade and Me was published today in the Tangled Locks Journal. You can read it here:
https://tangledlocksjournal.com/2022/10/02/roe-vs-wade-and-me/
The September/October issue of Art New England is finally out. I had a fabulous time interviewing Teresa and Robert Davis, the creative masterminds behind Vermont's newest immersive art experience, intriguingly titled Babaroosa, coming soon (we hope if all goes as planned.) https://artnewengland.com/september-october-2022_toc/
My essay, The Cake Went Splat! was included in the American Writers Review 2022 anthology. It will be available on Amazon in August.
The published works of Cynthia Close on documentary film, art, and women in the arts.
© 2026 Cynthia Close
Website developed by Radiance Studios LLC | Powered by Squarespace.