Noah Simblist

Houston friends! The Core Program at MFAH and Basket Books are hosting a conversation on Monday, April 13 (11 am–1 pm) with members of the Houston community and Noah Simblist, editor of the newly published book Living to Learn: Art & Education for the Common Good. This anthology presents the work of artists, curators, collectives, and scholars who address contemporary art as a site of learning in the 21st century. Building on earlier histories of education as a civic service for the common good, it focuses on the last 25 years, as well as the question of the future of art education—as a practice that unfolds both in and beyond school. The book constructs an impressionistic constellation of global case studies (focussing on The Americas and MIddle East) to see how innovations in education have had a dynamic relationship with artistic practice, alternative arts organizations, universities, museums and biennials. Some questions that the book addresses include: how can alternative organizations and traditional institutions learn from one another? How have exhibition platforms created space for artists to generate learning environments? How have these practices changed assumptions about art institutions and artistic practice? Finally, how can we think about the economic, ecological, and institutional sustainability of all of these practices? The goal of this conversation is to engage the ideas of this book with practitioners from a wide range of experiences with art and education in the Houston community. Also joining us is Steffani Jemison, a contributor to Living to Learn, who is giving a lecture at Glassel on April 14, 6-7pm. Link in bio for RSVP. First 20 to sign up get a free book! Thanks to @mhandwer and @_baskette for organizing

Austin! Please come by to join me and Alex Klein at Alienated Majesty Books on April 11, 7-9pm. I will present a brief overview of the book, followed by a conversation with Alex (Deborah Dupré Head Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs, The Contemporary Austin) about her contribution, a reflection on RAW Académie at ICA, a 2022 project that was an exchange between RAW Material Company in Senegal and the Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania (ICA) in Philadelphia, where Klein was a curator from 2011–22. Living to Learn: Art & Education for the Common Good (ICA at VCU and Inventory Press) presents the work of artists, curators, collectives, and scholars who address contemporary art as a site of learning in the 21st century. Building on earlier histories of education as a civic service for the common good, it focuses on the last 25 years, as well as the question of the future of art education—as a practice that unfolds both in and beyond school. The book constructs an impressionistic constellation of global case studies to see how innovations in education have had a dynamic relationship with artistic practice, alternative arts organizations, universities, museums and biennials. Some questions that the book addresses include: how can alternative organizations and traditional institutions learn from one another? How have exhibition platforms created space for artists to generate learning environments? How have these practices changed assumptions about art institutions and artistic practice? Finally, how can we think about the economic, ecological, and institutional sustainability of all of these practices?

Únase a nosotros en lugar a dudas con el curador, escritor y educador estadounidense Noah Simblist en conversación con Beatriz Balanta, fundadora y directora de Black Ground Lab, y Sally Mizrachi, fundadora y directora de lugar a dudas. Simblist ha editado el nuevo libro Living to Learn: Art & Education for the Common Good (Vivir para aprender: arte y educación para el bien común), que presenta el trabajo de más de 70 artistas, curadores, colectivos y académicos que abordan el arte contemporáneo como un lugar de aprendizaje en el siglo 21. El libro construye una constelación impresionista de estudios de casos globales para ver cómo las innovaciones en la educación han tenido una relación dinámica con la práctica artística, las organizaciones artísticas alternativas, las universidades, los museos y las bienales. Algunas de las preguntas que aborda el libro son: ¿cómo pueden las organizaciones alternativas y las instituciones tradicionales aprender unas de otras? ¿Cómo han creado las plataformas expositivas un espacio para que los artistas generen entornos de aprendizaje? ¿Cómo han cambiado estas prácticas las suposiciones sobre las instituciones artísticas y la práctica artística? Por último, ¿cómo podemos pensar en la sostenibilidad económica, ecológica e institucional de todas estas prácticas? Please join us at lugar a dudas with US based curator, writer and educator Noah Simblist in conversation with Beatriz Balanta, founder and director of Black Ground Lab and Sally Mizrachi, founder and director of lugar a dudas. Simblist edited the new book Living to Learn: Art & Education for the Common Good, which presents the work of over 70 artists, curators, collectives, and scholars who address contemporary art as a site of learning in the 21st century. The book constructs an impressionistic constellation of global case studies to see how innovations in education have had a dynamic relationship with artistic practice, alternative arts organizations, universities, museums and biennials. Thanks to Agustin Gonzalez for the flyer design @a.gonzalez.o

Painting + Printmaking is excited to congratulate Associate Professor Noah Simblist on the upcoming release of his publication, “Living to Learn: Art & Education for the Common Good”! In partnership with Inventory Press and the Institute of Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University, “Living to Learn” presents the work of over seventy artists, curators, collectives, and scholars who address contemporary art as a site of learning in the twenty-first century. “[...] Building on earlier histories of education as civic service for the common good, it focuses on the last twenty-five years while exploring the future of art education as a practice unfolding both in and beyond school. The book’s case studies reveal how innovations in education have a dynamic relationship with artistic practice, alternative arts organizations, universities, museums, and biennials.” On the occasion of the publication of “Living to Learn”, a small-scale workshop hosted by Noah will take place at the ICA this Friday, February 20th, from 4-6 pm. Following the workshop, the publication celebration will begin from 6-7 pm! Congratulations on your latest publication, Noah! ⭐️ @vcuarts @icavcu @inventorypress @noahsimblist #vcuarts #vcuartspaintprint

Living to Learn: Art Education in the Middle East Thursday, February 19 (1pm Palestine / 6am New York) RADIO ALHARA is presenting a podcast episode in conjunction with Living to Learn: Art and Education for the Common Good. It includes a conversation that I moderated about art education in the Middle East with Gregory Buchakjian (director of the School of Visual Arts at ALBA, Beirut), Aissa Deebi (director of of the Painting and printmaking department, VCU Qatar), Walid Sadek (American University of Beirut), Pelin Tan (professor and the head of the cinema department of the University of Batman, Turkey). produced, edited and sound designed by Amanda B Nazareno Living to Learn: Art and Education for the Common Good (ICA / Inventory Press) presents the work of artists, curators, collectives, and scholars who address contemporary art as a site of learning in the twenty-first century. Building on earlier histories of education as civic service for the common good, it focuses on the last twenty-five years, as well as the question of the future of art education―as a practice that unfolds both in and beyond school. The book constructs an impressionistic constellation of case studies to see how innovations in education have had a dynamic relationship with artistic practice, alternative arts organizations, universities, and museums.  #pelintan, #walidsadek, @gregorybuchakjian @alba.artsvisuels @aissa_deebi_studio @vcuqatar @vcuq_paintprint @inventorypress @icavcu @vcuartspaintprint @vcuarts @teigerfoundation

Happening Friday, Feb. 20: Join us for a book launch celebration! We're gathering to honor two new ICA publications being released this Spring. Living to Learn: Art and Education for the Common Good, edited by Noah Simblist (@noahsimblist ), VCU Associate Professor of Painting and Printmaking, and Dear Mazie: Sanctuary, Speculation, and Sky, edited by Amber Esseiva(@amberesseiva ), ICA Senior Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs. Produced in-house by the ICA at VCU, these books join a growing catalogue of ICA publications that pay close attention to learning as a social practice and to the institutions, spaces, and relationships that make it possible. Dear Mazie,: Sanctuary, Speculation, and Sky is co-published by @cara_the_org . Living to Learn: Art and Education for the Common Good is co-published by @inventorypress . The reception is from 6 to 7 PM. Living to Learn will be available for purchase. Dear Mazie,: Sanctuary, Speculation, and Sky will be released April 2026. To RSVP click the link in bio!

Doha wrap up: @vcuqatar art week presentation of #livingtolearn_icaip with @zeinaarida @aissa_deebi_studio @sarah_a_rifky #walidsadek | plus takes from @mathafmodern . @artbasel . @dohafirestation @gubgub.studios @miaqatar

36 hours in NYC - Studio Museum, Schomburg Library, Nicole Eisenman, Ana Mendieta

Western Mass vibes: celebrated @williebinnie ‘s 40th birthday. #jimenasarno at @massmoca and @lower_cavity in Holyoke

The Global Education Office and the Department of Painting and Printmaking in the School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University are pleased to offer a unique multi-country opportunity to study in some of Latin America’s premier hubs for contemporary art. In a 1-month journey through the cultural capitals of Mexico City, Guatemala City, and Cali, Colombia participants will venture through artists studios, museums, and galleries. Imagine walking the cobblestone streets of the colorful Spanish colonial city of Antigua; visiting indigenous Mayan and Aztec artifacts, learning ancient weaving techniques; and meeting some of the most influential cutting edge artists and curators in the world. We will walk through the finest examples of tropical modernist architecture and sample delicious foods like tacos, tamales, Pepian de Pollo, and arepas; finally engaging with the Afro-Colombian history of Cali, a city known for its salsa rhythms and reggaeton. Partnering with @somamexico , @hellenascoli , and @black_ground_lab Program Director: Noah Simblist, Associate Professor of Painting + Printmaking, [email protected] The GEO liaison for this program is Julia Wells, Global Learning Specialist, [email protected] Program Dates: June 1 to June 30, 2026 Application deadline: Feb 15, 2026 Link in bio

Hassala is an urgent relief project initiated by the artistic coalition, Artists Together. Amid the daily genocide in Gaza, Hassala aims to sustain the livelihoods of Palestinian Artists who continue to create and inspire despite unimaginable hardships. This initiative provides critical support for the artists, ensuring that their voices and stories are not lost amid the destruction. Link in bio

I wrote this piece about “Beyond the Frame: Abstraction Reconstructed, a Two-Person Exhibition Featuring Denzil Hurley and Reginald Sylvester II” at @canada.nyc for @burnaway - link in bio #denzilhurley #reginaldsylvesterii