'Mary Magdalene'
About
Curator and writer Susan Bright invites leading figures from across all areas of the cultural sector to choose their favourite work of art from the Gallery's collection.
Every painting in the Gallery means something different to each of us. Everyone brings their own histories, prejudices, tastes and background when they look and think about art. It’s curious to think why a certain work of art affects someone so profoundly and for another it might do nothing.
For this event, Bright is joined by sculptor, Phoebe Cummings who has chosen Savoldo's 'Mary Magdalene'.
Together they will talk about why this painting is Cummings's favourite. Could it be the history, context or the technique of the painting? At the heart of these conversations is the life beyond the object, stories of childhood, physical reactions and imagination.
Your hosts
Dr Susan Bright is an experienced arts leader who has curated exhibitions at Tate Britain, The National Portrait Gallery, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna, Princeton University Art Museum and more. She has published seven books on art and photography. She is a regular contributor to exhibition catalogues, journals, magazines and broadsheets and has appeared on BBC Radio 4. She is currently working on two exhibitions for 2026, in the USA.
Phoebe Cummings studied Three-Dimensional Crafts at the University of Brighton before completing an MA in Ceramics & Glass at the Royal College of Art in 2005. She has undertaken a number of artist residencies and was selected as the winner of the British Ceramics Biennial Award in 2011. Recent exhibitions have included a commission to make work for Swept Away at the Museum of Arts & Design, New York in 2012 and a solo show at the University of Hawaii Art Gallery, Honolulu (2013). She was awarded the second ceramics fellowship at Camden Arts Centre, London (2012 – 2013), was the inaugural winner of the Woman's Hour Craft Prize and was shortlisted for the Arts Foundation Awards 2018. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Brighton in 2019 and is Research Associate at the Ceramics Research Centre - UK, University of Westminster.
My favourite painting
'Mary Magdalene'
Tickets
Members: £20
This is a Members' exclusive event. Please show your membership card and ticket to gain entry to the event.
Please meet at the Getty Desk located in Annenberg Court for registration.
