A Fresh Breath of Inspiration
On January 23, the Newman Art Club walked up Newbury Street to find an icon of the local art scene: the Galerie D’orsay.
Stepping into the gallery, the students were surrounded by a variety of artistic styles, mediums, and perspectives. As the group explored, they found themselves captivated by the creative expressions.
Evia Cobo ‘26 explains, “Looking at pieces that were created with such depth, intellectually and artistically teaches you about the messages and processes of art. Personally, when I become too preoccupied with completing a project I focus on the final product rather than enjoying the actual process of creating art. Looking at works by other artists reminds you why you love creating and inspires you to make pieces you enjoy.”
“In my opinion, experiencing other peoples’ art helps me understand different types of art. As a young artist, this helps me understand and learn different techniques and experiment more with different methods,” shares Naomi Gee-Burko ‘30.
Similarly, Amma O’Gorman ‘26 remarks, “Experiencing other people’s art gives us inspiration and shows us new methods and mediums that may be worth exploring and incorporating into our own work.”
Another art club member agrees, “Experiencing others' art can help inspire me and give new unique ideas. The observable techniques also help me in developing my own art skills. Overall my creative journey is enriched by seeing others' art.”
As they moved through the gallery, students found themselves drawn to particular pieces that resonated with them on a deeper level. Whether it was the texture, composition, or sheer emotional impact of a work, each student connected uniquely to the art.
O’Gorman reflects, “The yellow multimedia piece was the most inspiring to me because it was mostly monochromatic, yet the differing textures added complexity and visual appeal. The piece is very large and mostly a bright yellow color. It looks as if the artist used sand mixed in with their paint and this texture was very intriguing to me. The bright color made me feel energized and I was fascinated by the way the piece has both simplicity and complexity.”
“One of my favorite and the most inspiring pieces I saw was Jump Out At You, No? by Jim Dine. The piece has two sides and each depicts the torso of a person in a robe. The colors are very vibrant and caught my attention right away. It reminded me of pop art and is a style I don’t experiment with much. However, I really like the techniques and would love to practice them more,” notes Gee-Burko.
“There was a clay piece depicting two figures climbing a rope which I found both aesthetically pleasing and inspiring. The piece displayed lots of technical skill and the composition of it was very interesting. Upon seeing it I was very inspired,” recalls another student.
Cobo describes, “The most inspiring piece I saw was titled “OZ” by artist SEN-1. It was such a vivid piece that utilized colors, textures, and the use of multimedia to paint an image of a vibrant city. It seemed to me an ode to city life, characterizing the colorful identity and experiences that are a part of cities.”
Beyond simply appreciating the artwork, the students left the gallery with new creative ideas and a deeper understanding of their own artistic aspirations.
One member reflects, “Seeing the piece displayed at the gallery and other similar works are a great help in developing an artistic vision and figuring out the creative path you would like to take.”
“After viewing it, I feel that I would like to create more multimedia artwork. Also, I would like to focus more on the emotions that I wish to evoke in my audience and how I can create work with that intentionality,” expresses O’Gorman.
Gee-Burko adds, “As mentioned previously, I have not really experimented with pop art or art more in this style yet. I think this Jim Dine piece inspired me to explore this concept further and create art with more of these techniques.”
“Visiting Galerie D’Orsay helped me with my own creative journey as I can see artist's work and their creative depth, and am able to apply these inspirations to my own process,” Cobo says.
By the end of the visit, the students walked away not only with a newfound appreciation for various artistic techniques but also with a renewed passion for their own creative endeavors. The Galerie D’Orsay had provided them with a fresh breath of inspiration—one that will influence their future work and artistic journeys.
The art club looks forward to their next field trip on March 27 to the Childs Gallery.
Photo Courtesy of Naomi Gee-Burko
