Mark Rothko’s Philosophy, Life, and Career
Dec 8, 2026, 12:00 PM ET<a href="https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/mark-rothko?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/mark-rothko?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223">smithsonianassociates.org…</a>
Mark Rothko, a Russian-born American artist, felt like an outsider after immigrating to the U.S. at age 10. This sense of alienation shaped his Abstract Expressionist paintings, which he intended as spaces for viewers to confront deep human emotions and experience catharsis, much like Greek tragedies. Rothko grew frustrated that many people saw his richly colored works as decorative rather than engaging with their emotional and spiritual purpose. Join art historian Matthew Palczynski as he explores the life and work of this visionary artist. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)