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.

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
Adam Elsheimer’s Poetic Depictions of the Flight Into Egypt

Two of Elsheimer’s copper paintings of the biblical narrative give insight into his innovative artistry.

Fine Arts April 27, 2026
Raphaelle Peale: America’s First Still Life Painter

Peale’s important body of work established the still life tradition in America.

Fine Arts April 27, 2026
Bronzino’s Mother and Son Masterpiece

'Portrait of Eleonora di Toledo With Her Son Giovanni' at the Uffizi Gallery is considered the Italian mannerist ...

Fine Arts April 27, 2026
Hendrick Avercamp: A Painter of Winter for All Seasons

The Dutch painter's animated winter landscapes were in such demand that he even painted them in summer.

Fine Arts April 22, 2026
‘Raphael: Sublime Poetry’: An Epic Exhibition at The Met

This is the first major Raphael exhibition to be staged in the United States.

Fine Arts April 5, 2026
Mozart, Music, and Family at the Morgan Library

Artifacts from the Mozarteum Foundation of Salzburg are on view in America for the first time.

Traditional Culture March 27, 2026
Philadelphia’s Independence Seaport Museum Celebrates America’s Semiquincentennial

'Seeking Profit and Power' exhibition takes visitors on an extraordinary voyage through the history of America’s commercial and ...

America's 250th March 20, 2026
Houdon’s Remarkable Marble Bust of Benjamin Franklin

The French sculptor's likenesses of many American luminaries honor their personalities and achievements.

Fine Arts March 17, 2026
El Greco’s Most Famous Painting Outside of Spain

El Greco’s triumphant altar painting “The Assumption of the Virgin” capitulated his career.

Fine Arts March 11, 2026
Titian’s Sartorial Sleeve

Titian's innovations in portraiture inspired virtually all 17th-century European artists.

Fine Arts March 10, 2026
Art Institute of Chicago’s Norman Rockwell Acquisition

This is the first time the museum has owned an artwork that depicts one of their hometown’s baseball ...

Fine Arts March 4, 2026
‘Red Boy’: The Met’s Famous Portrait

Francisco Goya's painting of a young boy compels continued discussion of its backstory and symbolism.

Fine Arts March 3, 2026
Who Wore What—Fashioned by Thomas Gainsborough

'Gainsborough: The Fashion of Portraiture' presents a detailed look at the artist's painted fashions throughout his four-decade career.

Fine Arts February 20, 2026
England’s Oldest Surviving Crown

This 14th-century bejeweled crown is further proof of Medieval craftsmen's advanced technical skills.

Fine Arts February 19, 2026
An Important Piece of 18th-Century French Furniture in America

Gilles Joubert's writing desk is regarded as one of the best furniture pieces made for King Louis XV ...

Fine Arts February 16, 2026
The Met Cloisters: A Medieval Jewel Box in Manhattan

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we visit a branch of the Metropolitan ...

Traditional Culture February 15, 2026
Tilman Riemenschneider’s Mastery of Sculpting the Virgin Mary

Analysis of two Riemenschneider sculptures of the Virgin Mary showcase the artist's ability to capture detailed emotion.

Fine Arts February 15, 2026