Orlando Museum of Art’s new chief curator wants art to be accessible, inclusive and representational of the culture it speaks to, as evidenced by four exhibits opening this month.

When Coralie Claeysen-Gleyzon began her role as the new chief curator for Orlando Museum of Art earlier this year, she brought with her a keen interest in promoting the idea that art, as well as art museums, are for everyone.

“It’s the people’s museum—and we’ve started using that phrase to refer to it because the collection doesn’t belong to the city: Really, it is held in the public’s trust,” she begins. “It’s been held together by so many community volunteers over the years that it’s really a representation of the city’s community and there is a direct connection to the art. And so my role here is that of a connector, a mediator, selecting the artworks to present for the specific purpose of facilitating the public’s connection to the arts and art education.”

Before joining Orlando’s museum nearly seven years ago, Claeysen-Gleyzon’s career had taken her around the globe, from the United Kington to Lebanon to Qatar, which helped deepen her commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to the sanctuary, culture and humanity that museums invite patrons of all ages, races, socioeconomic backgrounds and interests to share in.

That inclusive philosophy has certainly informed the Orlando Museum of Art’s upcoming quartet of exhibits: As Claeysen-Gleyzon notes, “It is really important for us to be representative of culture and the people, while opening a space for new ideas and dialogue”

* Golden Legacy: Original Art from 80 Years of Golden Books (Sept. 6-Nov. 29)
Organized by The National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, this exhibit features more than 60 original illustrations steeped in nostalgia and bringing back familiar characters from The Poky Little Puppy, Tootle, Home for a Bunny, The Color Kittens, I Can Fly, and many more.

“What I love about the Golden Books is that they are intergenerational, and the ability to appeal to all generations, from the youngest to the wisest, is one of the things we’ve been achieving with our free Access For All days,” says Claeysen-Gleyzon. “I remember my parents reading me Golden Books and having them at home, and I loved reading them to my kids. They still make them—there’s one for Taylor Swift—and I love thinking about how when you read a story to your children or grandchildren, there’s a generational bond that forms around it.”

* Torn Apart: Punk + New Wave Graphics, Fashion and Culture, 1976-86 (Sept. 21-Jan. 5, 2025)
Graphics, garments, ephemera and photography all come together in a truly comprehensive display of alternative culture highlighting the era’s vibrant designs and the people behind them. And, as Claeysen-Gleyzon notes, the punk scene was filled with art-students-turned-musicians, adding another rich layer to the connection between counterculture and art.

She adds: “The people who were punks or skateboarders back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, their kids are now embracing that same culture—they go to gigs together, they share a similar appreciation for music, continuing that beautiful cross-generational connection and understanding we need more of.”

* Push: J. Grant Brittain 80s Skateboarding Photography (Sept. 21-Jan. 5, 2025)
Skateboarding and photography are also on full display in this exhibit, the first-ever museum exhibition retrospective of one of the world’s most iconic and influential skateboard photographers, J. Grant Brittain.

“This ties in with the Olympics too, now that skateboarding is an Olympic sport, with Florida being represented on the international stage by Poe Pinson,” Claeysen-Gleyzon points out. “It’s really exciting and wonderful to see the general public’s renewed interest in this other alternative culture that was embraced by entire generations and propelled a plethora of new art, inspiring fashion, and deck designs. We are thrilled to share Grant’s capture of these iconic moments with our audiences.”

* Front Row Center (Sept. 21-Jan. 5, 2025)
Larry Hulst’s photographs immortalized some of rock ‘n’ roll, soul and blues’ greatest performers, and Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie and Lauryn Hill are among the immediately recognizable icons comprising the more than 70 images this exhibit unites across three genres and generations.

“We’re tugging on emotional chords with this exhibit: We want people to say, ‘I love this artist! or ‘I love this music!’ as they look at these photos, “and what a great shot of that iconic singer” says Claeysen-Gleyzon. There will also be the surprise addition of a beautiful guitar collection on display in the galleries.

In addition to celebrating their respective artistic media and cultural scopes, Claeysen-Gleyzon says that exhibitions will also be accompanied by multisensory, interactive activities, lectures and programming that all have been deliberately crafted to offer patrons both an intimate connection with and enhanced appreciation for the subject matter.

“What we’re presenting is both highly visual, and then, with the punk exhibition, there will be a soundtrack that people can actually listen to on SoundCloud,” she explains. “There will be videos, there will be two little makers’ spaces where people will be able to make their own buttons or zines. We’ll be doing some printing workshops, there will be a listening station where people will be able to play records. … We’ll have, of course, a lot of different family programs, too—we have Stroller Tours, twice a month and monthly art adventures that are a favorite for the little ones, as well as our free Family Day on Saturday, Oct. 5.”

After all, one of the best ways to encourage a lot of art in all its forms—and the museum making it all publicly available—is to let people unleash their own inner artist.

“We try to encourage people to be creative,” Claeysen-Gleyzon affirms. “I really, truly believe in the transformational power of art and its ability to make us feel grounded again and express emotions that are maybe a little too difficult to put into words. I want people to realize that everyone is creative, even if they’re intimidated or don’t know where to start. There is no age limit for going back to rediscovering or unearthing that creativity.”

Orlando Museum of Art
Orlando
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