Michelle Plastrik

Michelle Plastrik is an art adviser living in New York City. She writes on a range of topics, including art history, the art market, museums, art fairs, and special exhibitions.

Whistler’s ‘Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room’

The artist's decorative room continues to inspire visitors, artists, and designers.

Fine Arts September 1, 2026
The Italian Job: Four Antonello da Messina Paintings Stolen from Sicilian Museum

Thieves broke into the Regional Museum of Messina, Italy during the Ferragosto holiday on Aug. 15.

Fine Arts August 28, 2026
Deciphering the True Story of ‘Cleopatra’s Needles’

Carved about 3,500 years ago, the two obelisks are still being studied in the modern era.

Traditional Culture August 19, 2026
Unraveling the Mysteries of Leonardo’s ‘Madonna of the Yarnwinder’

Leonardo's enigmatic painting quietly went on long-term loan at The Met without much fanfare this spring.

Fine Arts August 16, 2026
Roelant Savery’s Enchanting Paintings of Orpheus

Savery’s paintings are not only beautiful but remain topical about the hopeful power of art to unify.

Fine Arts August 12, 2026
Meet the Mascot of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

William the hippopotamus is both an ancient artifact and a modern cultural symbol.

Fine Arts August 11, 2026
Angelica Kauffmann’s Paintings of Penelope, the Faithful Wife

The neoclassical painter illustrated more than a dozen pictures from Homer's epic poem, but it was the storyline ...

Fine Arts August 2, 2026
‘Winslow Homer: Painter, Etcher’ on Exhibit at the Portland Museum of Art

On view through Oct. 18, 2026, it is the first major exhibition to spotlight the artist's etching practice.

Fine Arts July 29, 2026
Rediscovering the Pre-Raphaelite Artist Marie Spartali Stillman

Spartali Stillman pushed the boundaries of watercolor, making her pictures rival the effects of oil paint.

Fine Arts July 22, 2026
The Powerful Portrayal of ‘Augustus of Prima Porta’

The emperor Augustus's pose has inspired portraits of subsequent leaders.

Fine Arts July 13, 2026
Casting Light on the Work of Andrea del Verrocchio

Skilled in sculpture, painting, architecture, and goldsmithing, the 15th-century artist inspired some of the greatest Italian Renaissance masters.

Fine Arts July 10, 2026
John La Farge’s Spectacular Stained Glass Windows of Peonies

Among the first to incorporate opalescent glass, he designed unprecedented stained glass windows.

Fine Arts July 9, 2026
One of the Greatest Treasures of European Medieval Art in an American Museum

A chalice used for centuries in a French basilica is now a treasured piece at the National Gallery ...

Fine Arts July 6, 2026
Villa Kérylos: Ancient Greece Reincarnated on the French Riviera

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we visit an early 20th-century paean to ...

Traditional Culture June 26, 2026
Eternal Etruscan Love in Their Funerary Art

Etruscan society loved music and banqueting, and their funerary art reflected their prosperous lifestyle.

Fine Arts June 24, 2026
‘A Marvelous Journey: The Collection of Maurice Tempelsman’ at Sotheby’s New York

A varied collection of fine and decorative art as well as rare books will be auctioned at Sotheby’s ...

Fine Arts June 22, 2026
Regal Portraiture at the London Exhibition ‘Elizabeth I: Queen and Court’

The exhibition's assemblage of rare Tudor-era paintings demonstrates the development of portraiture as a significant art genre in ...

Fine Arts June 18, 2026
Antiquity’s Most Magnetic Mosaic

At over 2,000 years old, the majestic “Alexander Mosaic" is a testament to the advanced skills of ancient ...

Fine Arts June 7, 2026
‘A Treasured History: The Stream Family Collection’ at Christie’s New York

The auction features one of the world’s finest groups of Fabergé, together with an extraordinary trove of rare ...

Fine Arts June 3, 2026
Park Avenue Armory: American Aesthetic Movement’s Revitalized Monument

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we visit a New York City cultural ...

Traditional Culture May 31, 2026
‘Old Masters, New Amsterdam’ at The New York Historical

The New York City exhibition examines life in New Amsterdam through the lens of exceptional 17th-century Dutch paintings.

Fine Arts May 24, 2026
An Invitation to the Ducal Palace in Gubbio at The Met

Inside the 'studiolo,' visitors are transported to a ruler’s retreat in a 15th-century Italian palace.

Fine Arts May 14, 2026
TEFAF New York Opens: Prestigious Art Fair Blooms for a Limited Time

The annual art fair brings together international dealers to showcase their work throughout the 16 historic, period rooms ...

Fine Arts May 14, 2026
The Civil War Painting That Made Winslow Homer’s Reputation

The artist's experience at the battlefront had a lasting effect on his art.

Fine Arts May 14, 2026
The Getty’s Stupendous Dutch Still Life Acquisitions

Two works by Dutch Golden Age painters Pieter Claesz and Jan Davidsz. de Heem mark the first works ...

Fine Arts May 13, 2026
‘Gothic by Design: The Dawn of Architectural Draftsmanship’ at The Met

This unique exhibition offers a behind-the-scenes look at the intricate and innovative design practices of Gothic architecture.

Fine Arts May 9, 2026
The ‘Mona Lisa’ of the Classical World

The 'Mask of Agamemnon' formed the basis for Homer’s golden Mycenae.

Fine Arts May 6, 2026