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Description
Presented by Memphis' art museum — Tennessee’s oldest and largest art museum
Step into the story of art. Art History 101 is an engaging lecture series designed for anyone curious about how art has shaped, and been shaped by, the world. Whether you're a lifelong learner or just beginning to explore, this accessible series makes art history feel both enlightening and approachable.
Hosted at Memphis' art museum, this is your opportunity to learn inside the very institution that houses more than 10,000 works spanning 5,000 years of global creativity. There’s no better place in the region to explore the milestones of visual culture—surrounded by the art itself.
What You'll Learn
Each session explores a different era in the western art tradition, from ancient civilizations to the modern day:
The origins of art in prehistoric and early societies
The legacy of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman traditions
The rise of Christianity and the art of the Middle Ages
Renaissance revolutions and the evolution of perspective
Romanticism, Impressionism, Modernism, and beyond
Whether attending one session or the full series, you'll leave with a deeper appreciation of how art reflects the human experience.
Members receive a free drink ticket upon entry.
Your Instructor
Dr. William C. McKeown, Associate Professor of Art History at the University of Memphis, brings decades of teaching experience and a passion for visual storytelling. His lectures are designed to be clear, engaging, and filled with moments of insight—no background in art history required.
About the professor
William C. McKeown
Dr. William C. McKeown is an Associate Professor of Art History at the University of Memphis, Tennessee. He received his Master of Arts in Art History and Criticism from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and his PhD in the History and Criticism of Art from Florida State University. He has published articles on topics in nineteenth-century art and culture for The Burlington Magazine, The Ruskin Review and Bulletin, and the Tennessee Historical Quarterly.
His book, The Role of Venetian Renaissance Painting in John Ruskin’s Utopian Theories, was published by the Edwin Mellen Press in 2011. He is the editor of a new edition of John Ruskin’s Stones of Venice (forthcoming from the University of Toronto Press) and is currently working on a study of the visual culture of utopianism at the Ruskin Cooperative Association commune in late 19th-century Tennessee.
Lecture Dates
Sept 4: Introduction: the Forms and Materials of Visual Art; Prehistoric and Ancient Art
Sept. 11: Arts of Antiquity: Ancient Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Art
Sept. 18: Art of the Middle Ages: from the 4th to the 14th Century
Sept. 25: Early Renaissance: 15th-century Art
Oct. 2: The High Renaissance and Mannerist Periods: 16th-Century Art
Oct. 9: The Baroque Era: 17th-Century Art
Oct. 16: The Rococo Period and the Neo-Classical Movement: 18th-Century Art
Oct. 30: Romanticism and Realism: Early to Mid-19th-Century Art
Nov. 6: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism: Late 19th-Century Art
Nov. 13: Art in the United States, c. 1770-1913: from the Revolution to the Armory Show
Nov. 20: Modernism in Europe and America: Early to Mid-20th-Century Art
Dec. 4: Art Since 1950
The museum and all its programs are made possible by the generous support of museum members. Members enjoy free daily admission to Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and receive discounts of up to 50% on ticketed events. Join today at thebrooks.org/join
Refunds and Exchanges
All ticket sales are final and non-refundable.
If an event is canceled, no action is required to obtain a refund; we will issue a refund to the original method of payment used at the time of purchase.
If an event is postponed, rescheduled, or moved, your tickets are still valid for the new date, and no further action is required. However, ticket holders will receive an email notifying them of any available refund options for the event.
Date & Time
Sep 4 - Dec 4, 2025
Venue Details
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
1934 Poplar AvenueMemphis, Tennessee 38104
