Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Questions about her art? Ask away

New York based artist Inka Essenhigh will speak at MOCA Friday evening (Southside Daily photo/Courtesy of MOCA)
New York based artist Inka Essenhigh will speak at MOCA Friday evening (Southside Daily photo/Courtesy of MOCA)

VIRGINIA BEACH — It’s not often fans of art can get up close and personal with the artists who create the art they love and talk to them about it.

Area residents will have the opportunity to gain insight into the art, the artist, and the process she uses on May 18 when the Museum of Contemporary Art brings New York Artist Inka Essenhigh to Virginia Beach for an evening of conversation, questions, and answers.

“Inka Essenhigh will be speaking about her incredible career as one the leading contemporary artists working today,” said Sallie Wiggins, spokeswoman for MOCA. “She will discuss what has inspired her vision and will encourage questions and remarks from the audience.”

Through Aug. 19 MOCA is hosting an exhibit of Essenhigh’s work, which according to her website can be described as “painted visions (that) are richly colored distorted fables peopled with archetypes, sprites, and anthropomorphized nature.”

The ocean becomes a sea monster while a tree becomes a goddess, and hipster bar-goers become drunken ghouls.

Wiggins said the event will be an evening of both art and of community.

Fairy Procession, a 2016 work, oil and enamel on wood, by Inka Essenhigh (Southside Daily photo/Courtesy inkaessenhigh.art)
Fairy Procession, a 2016 work, oil and enamel on wood, by Inka Essenhigh (Southside Daily photo/Courtesy inkaessenhigh.art)

Essenhigh has been exhibiting her work for 20 years and has taken part in shows at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, a show at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, and the Second Berlin Biennale in Germany.

MOCA members can attend the event for free, while non-members will be charged $5. Tickets can be purchased online.

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