Focus on European Art

Member/Guest Reception at Larsen Gallery
2025-04-03 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Phoenix)
Member/Guest Reception at Larsen Gallery in conjunction with Larsen’s Annual Spring Auction

RSVP to FOCUSonEuropeanArt@outlook.com

Annual Meeting
2025-05-08 16:30 - 18:00
Home of FOCUS President,
Light hors d’oeuvres and drinks

SOCIAL: Procuring Art from Eastern Europe
2025-09-25 17:00
Including Highlights of Ukrainian Art, Discussion and Gallery Viewing
Paul Scott Gallery, 7103 E Main St, Scottsdale
Wine and cheese reception following
The Art Room, 7056 E Main St, Scottsdale

SALON: The Living Line: Art Nouveau and the Rhythm of Modern Design
2025-10-23 16:30 - 18:30
Alisa Chiles, Ph.D, The Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Decorative Arts
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia

Dr. Alisa Chiles is the Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Decorative Arts, 1890-Present at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in Richmond, VA. She oversees a collection of more than 3,100 decorative arts objects created after 1890, including the VMFA’s renowned holdings of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, considered the finest outside of France, as well as the museum’s extensive Fabergé collection, the most significant outside of Russia. An expert in the decorative arts of the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, she received her B.A. in Art History from Stanford University, her M.A. in Art History from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University, and her Ph.D. in Art History from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Chiles joined VMFA in 2025 from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where she served as Assistant Curator of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture, overseeing a large collection of objects from the 18th century to present day. In Philadelphia, she played a vital role in the reinstallation of the museum’s 19 th -century galleries and worked on projects that recontextualized European decorative arts through a global lens. She previously worked in the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Wine and hors d’oeuvres
The Gladly, 2201 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix

SALON: Rare Maps - From the Collector's Perspective
2025-11-18 17:30
Laura Ten Eyk, Director, Argosy Bookstore, New York
Laura is an expert on rare maps and has a loyal following on Antiques Roadshow
Lecture, wine and snacks
Seasons 52, 2502 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix

For Philanthropists and Patrons: Pleasure in Foreign Things - Medieval France and the Silk Road
2025-12-09 16:00 - 18:00
Markus Cruse, PhD, Professor at Arizona State University
Wine and hors d’oeuvres
Private home to be confirmed upon RSVP

CARVED SPLENDORS: Florentine Baroque Frames at the Medici Court
2026-01-28 17:00
Davide Gasparotto, Senior Curator of Paintings, Getty Museum
Tours of Exhibition “The Florentine Baroque” from the Haukohl Family Collection,”
Refreshments and Lecture

FOCUS Travels to Venice for Carnevale
2026-02-10 - 2026-02-26
FOCUS friend Paola Vojnovic takes FOCUS to La Serenissima,

Questions: email FOCUSonEuropeanArt@outlook.com

Real or Ideal: The Boundaries of Naturalism in the Italian Renaissance
2026-02-24 17:30 - 18:30
Jennifer Adams, PhD Italian Art History

Jim Clark Contemplative Chapel, Saint Barnabas, Scottsdale

Special Event For Philanthropists: The Extraordinary (and Unexpected) Career of Grand Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici
2026-03-05 16:30 - 19:00
Due to the special role Philanthropists played in enabling FOCUS to be able to sponsor the exhibition: Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection, the FOCUS Board is delighted to be able to include Philanthropists in this invitation:

J.P. Morgan, together with Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO, and the Board of Trustees of Phoenix Art Museum, invite you to an exclusive evening with Alessio Assonitis, Director at Medici Archive Project.

Discover the remarkable story of Cosimo de’ Medici, who rose from hardship and obscurity to become the founder of the Grand Ducal dynasty of Tuscany. Despite limited resources in his youth, Cosimo’s financial ingenuity—honed through necessity—became central to his success. Alessio Assonitis will explore how Cosimo’s shrewd management, innovative investments, and strategic alliances restored Florence’s prosperity and stability, transforming the city into a dynamic and modern state. The discussion will also offer insights into Cosimo’s personal life and enduring legacy, including unpublished artifacts from the Medici Archive Project.

SALON: Gladiators: Male and Female in the Roman Empire
2026-03-31
Best-selling author Ross King speaks about the Roman gladiatorial scene with emphasis on Phoenix Art Musuem’s “Police Verso.”

Spring Social at Larsen Gallery
2026-04-15 17:30 - 19:00
Members, wear your name badge proudly and invite someone that should get involved with our group as your guest.
Mix and mingle with other FOCUS members, their guests, as we enjoy the public preview of the upcoming Larsen Gallery Spring art auction.
Later, take in Old Town for browsing other fine galleries or dinner.

Social: Arizona Opera Costume Presentation
2026-09-17 16:30 - 18:30
The Arizona Opera presents costumes from its costume shop for FOCUS on European Art. FOCUS members can join us in the Arizona Opera Atrium to learn more about the costume shop presented by a member of the Arizona Opera Costume shop.
Arizona Opera Atrium
1636 North Central Ave.
Phoenix, Arizona 85004

Social: What's Happening at Phoenix Art Museum
2026-10-28 17:00 - 18:00
Jeremy Mikolajczak,Sybil Harrington Director + Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix Art Museum
Refreshments provided
At a private home in Paradise Valley
Jeremy will bring us up to date on the happenings at PhxArt. Bring your questions!

Salon: Tetra String Quartet - The Color of Sound
2026-11-13 17:30
Enjoy these talented local musicians for an Interactive, fun-filled evening at a private home. Featuring works by Haydn, Debussy, and Ponce.
The special treat is that the lead will be guest violinist, Dr Spencer Ekenes. Bring your ears first and your questions later!

Private Home
Refreshments will be served

For Patrons and Philanthropists | Engaging the Senses: Medieval Art in the Cathedral of Santiago Compostela
2026-12-08 17:00 - 18:00
Tuesday, December 8, 2026, at 5:00 pm

Zee Wilson, PhD Candidate in Art History at ASU and 2025-26 FOCUS Scholarship Recipient

Engaging the Senses: Medieval Art in the Cathedral of Santiago Compostela

Private Home, Wine and hors d’oeuvres

Collaboration with Phoenix Art Museum
2027-01-27 17:00 - 18:00
Tentatively Wednesday, January 27, 2027, at 5 pm

To celebrate the recent acquisition of “Trifle” by contemporary British artist Flora Yukhnovich,

Flora will discuss her inspiration and her process in creating her large-scale abstract paintings in colors reminiscent of the Rococo.

Refreshments provided

Salon: What, How and Why of Museum Acquisitions
2027-02-23 16:30
Gloria Groom, Chair and Winton Green Curator
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Executive Director of Initiatives in France
Chevalier, Légion d’honneur

What, How and Why of Museum Acquisitions.

Gloria will present some recent additions in the Department of Painting and Sculpture of Europe at the Art Institute of Chicago and the philosophy, pragmatism and the HUNT for the transformative object.

Refreshments will be served

Location to be determined

Salon: The History of European Opera
2027-04-19 16:30 - 18:30
Lecture by Brian DeMaris, General Director of Arizona Opera, on The History of European Opera at the Arizona Opera.
Arizona Opera
1636 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
