“Is this the real thing?” Museum professionals periodically get this question, where wide-eyed visitors are struck by the reality that they are face-to-face with authentic works of art. But what exactly does it mean for an artwork to be considered authentic, or original? Are there certain traits or characteristics that tell us so? What happens to a work of art that is deemed inauthentic? Does it no longer have value? These questions will guide us as we investigate concepts of authenticity and originality as they relate to the visual arts. Using various case studies, we will examine originals, copies, replicas, forgeries, appropriated works and more. Throughout the course, we will consider how these objects hold value and the ways in which those value systems are dependent on the type of object, the creator, the culture, and the time period.
Art and Authenticity
Required Reading
No textbook is required. All readings will be distributed to students electronically.
Meet Your Professor
Olivia Miller
OLIVIA MILLER is the Interim Director and Curator at the University of Arizona Museum of Art (UAMA) where she has worked since 2012, curating or co-curating more than 30 exhibitions. Her most recent is Restored: The Return of Woman-Ochre, which traces the incredible story of Willem de Kooning’s stolen, recovered, and recently conserved painting. She is currently co-curating a solo exhibition of Diné weaver and painter, Marlowe Katoney, which is supported by a grant from the Terra Foundation for American Art.
Location
POETRY CENTER
Dorothy Rubel Room
1508 E Helen
Tucson, AZ 85721
United States
Located on the SE corner of Helen Street and Vine Avenue, one block north of Speedway and three blocks west of Campbell Ave.
