April 17 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
In 1955, Abby Rockefeller Mauzé—daughter of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., sister of future Governor Winthrop Rockefeller, and sister-in-law of future Arkansas First Lady Jeannette Edris Rockefeller (pictured above)—made a significant gift to the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, then called the Museum of Fine Arts: the monumental painting Dos Mujeres (Two Women) by Diego Rivera. When the painting entered the collection, it marked the beginning of a new era for the museum.
Governor Rockefeller, a visionary dedicated to advancing art and culture as a foundation for Arkansas industry and education, encouraged his sister to give this transformational gift, which inspired generations of Rockefeller and other family donations to follow.
As part of Rivera’s Paris, please join Dr. John A. Kirk, George W. Donaghey Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, to explore this history, the impact of Dos Mujeres on art in Arkansas, and the enduring legacy of the Rockefellers’ philanthropic efforts in the state.
Live open captioning is provided during this event.
After the lecture, enjoy lunch at AMFA’s Park Grill. Space is limited. To make reservations, contact: 501-396-0390 or parkgrill@arkmfa.org.
About John Kirk
John A. Kirk is the George W. Donaghey Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He has authored, edited, or co-edited ten books including, most recently, Winthrop Rockefeller: From New Yorker to Arkansawyer, 1912-1956 (Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 2022), which won the 2024 Booker Worthen Literary Prize from the Central Arkansas Library System and the 2024 John G. Ragsdale Book Award from the Arkansas Historical Association.
Kirk has published numerous book chapters, articles, and media pieces that have appeared in The Guardian, The Atlantic, The Huffington Post, PBS, CNN, The History Channel, and BBC Radio. His research has been supported by numerous grants and fellowships including at the Roosevelt Study Centre (Middleburg, The Netherlands), the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library (Boston), and the Rockefeller Archive Center (New York).
Rivera’s Paris is supported in part by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation with additional support from the Robert Lehman Foundation.
This exhibition is organized by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.
