Gloria Williams Sander, Curator, Norton Simon Museum [photo credit: Norton Simon Museum]
Scheyer’s dedication extended beyond mere promotion; she actively cultivated a diverse audience for abstract art through organizing exhibitions, delivering lectures, and engaging both children and adults in art education and creation. Her efforts were instrumental in broadening the appreciation for modern art in Pasadena and beyond. This lecture promises to illuminate the profound impact of her work and her unique approach to fostering artistic connections.
Gloria Williams Sander, Curator at the Norton Simon Museum, will lead the discussion, exploring the intricate web of relationships Scheyer forged throughout her career. Sander will highlight Scheyer’s close ties with the Blue Four artists and other significant cultural figures she encountered in America. These connections included luminaries such as composer John Cage, Mexican muralists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, photographer Edward Weston, artist Beatrice Wood, and influential members of the Hollywood film industry. The lecture will offer a fascinating glimpse into the personal and professional circles that shaped Scheyer’s legacy and the broader art landscape.
Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of Scheyer’s role not only as an impresario but also as a friend and confidante to many of the era’s most celebrated artists. Her ability to energize and unite a wide array of individuals around her passion for art underscores her lasting influence. This event is a unique opportunity to explore the personal narratives behind the public personas of these artistic giants, as seen through the lens of Galka Scheyer’s extraordinary life.
Need to Know: “Close Circles: A Portrait of Galka Scheyer as the Artist’s Friend” takes place Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Theater, Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA. Admission is free with museum admission. For more information, visit the official event page: https://www.nortonsimon.org/calendar/2026/spring-2026/Close-Circles-A-Portrait-of-Galka-Scheyer-as-the-Artists-Friend-4-18-2026-500PM#2026-04-18
