Gallery Talk: Joe Fig – Contemplating Vermeer at New Britain Museum of American Art

Artist Joe Fig offers a special Gallery Talk exploring his current exhibition Contemplating Vermeer at the New Britain Museum of American Art. Inspired by the 2023 Rijksmuseum exhibition that gathered 28 of Johannes Vermeer’s known masterpieces, Fig’s series reflects on the timeless allure of the Dutch master’s work and the modern-day experience of viewing it.

In this exhibition, Fig builds on his decade-long Contemplation series, capturing museum visitors as they interact with Vermeer’s paintings, thoughtfully examining how people engage with art in public spaces. His new paintings pay tribute to Vermeer’s exquisite use of light, color, and detail while revealing the quiet moments of reflection that unfold in the gallery.

Joe Fig’s work is held in major museum collections, including the Fogg Art Museum, Chazen Museum of Art, Norton Museum of Art, and The New Museum of Contemporary Art. He is also the author of the well-known books Inside the Painter’s Studio and Inside the Artist’s Studio and currently serves as the Department Chair of Fine Arts and Visual Studies at Ringling College of Art and Design.

Gallery Talks will take place on Wednesday, July 16; September 11; October 9; and November 13, 2025, each beginning at 1:00 pm.

The New Britain Museum of American Art is located at 56 Lexington Street, New Britain, CT. For more details, visit nbmaa.org or call 860-229-0257. Museum admission applies.