For many, “girlhood” isn’t a finite period.

The new art book GIRLS: On Boredom, Rebellion and Being In-Between recognizes just that, proving how much what we consume, observe, and experience in our youth can shape us—how playground rites of passage, and iconography like bows and barrettes, or dollhouses and fairy wands, can inform our memories and carry weight and connotations more complex than misogyny may lead us to believe.

Published by Hannibal Books and out now, the book is based on MoMu - The Fashion Museum in Antwerp’s acclaimed exhibition by the same name is primarily compiled by and features essays from MoMu curator Elisa De Wyngaert; writer/editor Claire Marie Healy, known for her “Girlhood Studies” series; and The New School, Parsons Paris Fashion Studios professor Morna Laing. GIRLS and its corresponding exhibit, running now until February 2026, features film stills, photographs, garments, and artwork from the likes of Sofia Coppola, Alice Neel, Simone Rocha, and Petra Collins that speak to how girlhood is “more than just a theme, but a way of seeing—of remembering and imagining.”

Over email, De Wyngaert tells Marie Claire that putting the project together unearthed many memories for herself and her collaborators. But what surprised De Wyngaert the most was what a child psychologist shared regarding the concept of boredom in girls. “Although life may seem to stand still, the teenage brain is anything but idle,” the curator says she learned. “Beneath the surface, childhood is unravelling, leaving loose threads searching for ways to connect with adulthood. Feeling bored in adolescence carries a desire for purpose and transformation. However, the balance between restful stillness and unsettling silence is delicate.”

The book may seem like an on-trend dovetail with how fashion and media’s recent embrace of the girl’s gaze—but De Wyngaert says the story of girlhood is timeless, always worth telling, and forever inherently political.

“There is no future without teenagers, and yet, for many, that future is uncertain,” she says “In the worst places to be a young girl, gender inequality, poverty, conflict, and deep-rooted discrimination steal opportunities before they begin. This project is for them, too. It’s for the trans kids. For those who lift girls up: the friends, the siblings, the parents, the teachers, the mentors, the charities, the ones who listen. A reminder that through art, fashion, and exhibition-making, representation and storytelling remain essential in shaping visibility.”

Below, De Wyngaert and Claire Marie Healy, who curated the films spotlighted in GIRLS, selected their favorite art pieces and images in the book, and explain why they speak to the project and exhibit’s larger themes.

Sofia Lai's Sculptures

"'Girl’ is a fluid concept. It’s not easily defined by gender or age. It doesn’t have to match the gender on your passport. When are you a girl, and when are you not? Is it a choice, or do others decide for you? Is it a phase, or more of a feeling?

Several artworks explore these questions, including new installations created with artist and stylist Sofia Lai. One of her dressed sculptures reflects on the familiar teenage experience of feeling alien in your own body, overwhelmed by hormonal shifts, emotions, and physical changes. How do we use clothing during that time to express identity and seek connection?” –Elisa De Wyngaert, Curator at MoMu Fashion Museum Antwerp

'The Virgin Suicides'

“We’re especially grateful we’re able to present the original costumes from The Virgin Suicides (1999) for the first time. We collaborated with director Sofia Coppola and costume designer Nancy Steiner. In Coppola’s adaptation of Jeffrey Eugenides’s [1970s-set] novel, she captures the intensity, vulnerability, and emerging sexuality of adolescence. Steiner’s costumes and Air’s ethereal soundtrack contribute to the film’s enchanting yet realistic atmosphere." –De Wyngaert

'Bonjour Tristesse'

"I found many surprise parallels with the wider 'Girls' show in Durga [Chew-Bose]’s debut feature, adapted closely from the Françoise Sagan novel: Cécile’s ringer tee recalling Chloë Sevigny's in Kids, or the way her lead actress, Lily [McInerny], tends to stand like Degas’s 'Little Dancer' when she’s unobserved." –Claire Marie Healy, guest curator for the films in the "GIRLS" exhibition

GIRLS: On Boredom, Rebellion and Being In-Between, published by Hannibal Books, is available now.

Photographer Beth Garrabrant has spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to grow up in America. Most notably, she’s collaborated closely with one of the nation’s leading voices on girlhood: Taylor Swift. (She's shot the singer's album artwork since folklore.) But even before the two connected, so-called timeless representations of coming of age were omnipresent in Garrabrant’s childhood. She was raised in Lake Forest, Illinois, best known as the Chicago suburb that inspired many of John Hughes’ iconic teen films (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club), and growing up, it felt like she was in one herself.

While it came together somewhat inadvertently outside of her work with Swift, Garrabrant’s lifelong interest in youth culture, her suburban upbringing, and her focus on portraiture led her to create her own project about youth in America. Titled Things Shouldn’t Be So Hard (published by Simon & Schuster on November 12), it features photos illustrating how coming of age in America is not a monolith. Instead, it shows beauty exists in the quieter, more vulnerable moments of our shared experiences like being alone in our bedrooms; riding in the backseats of our loved ones' cars; in between classes in school hallways.

The monograph spans two decades of work. The book’s earliest entries include shots Garrabrant took of her sister and friends in the early 2000s. Years later, she set out to capture staged portraits of children and teens across the country in spaces that felt familiar: their schools, homes, part-time jobs, or places of worship. The images fit together seamlessly in what became Things Shouldn’t Be So Hard.

With her debut book on shelves now, Garrabrant shared three exclusive photos with Marie Claire——two from her time spent in South Bend, Indiana, and one from Brooklyn, New York—alongside captions about how she crafted each shot.

South Bend is very cold in the winter. The sun disappears around late October and doesn’t return until mid-April. But once the sun does come back it’s as if everyone in the midwest suddenly wakes up and goes outside. That’s what the whole Chicagoland area is like in the spring. Louie was no exception on the day we took this picture. His family was doing some spring cleaning in the backyard, negotiating over what was still used and important.

Bela and Katia are Louie’s sisters. Throughout my four years in South Bend I mostly made pictures and videos with Bela, Katia, and Louie. This picture is from my first attempt to shoot and print color film. I didn’t know how to use strobes yet, so we used the remaining daylight, turned on the bedside lamps, and I asked the girls to sit as still as they could. We were in the attic-turned-guest room and the scent of dinner was in the air. Bela was always my co-director and Katia always wanted to hold my light meter. The “clicky thing.”

This was my downstairs neighbor, Savi, in her aunt Joy’s living room. Ms. Joy owned the building, an extraordinary brownstone on Adelphi Street that had a koi pond and a greenhouse. Whenever I saw Savi, she was always off to ballet or school, buttoned up in a puffer coat and tights and holding her mom’s hand walking out the door. When she was home, she was often at Joy’s and the doors were always open for a visit. Savi was shy, but she loved to perform and would relish in showing us what she had recently perfected.

Andy Warhol created many a pop art portrait in his day, with his iconic brightly colored pieces featuring stars like Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis. And although his painting of Queen Elizabeth II might be the most well-known in terms of Warhol's royal pieces, he also immortalized a young Princess Diana and Prince Charles (now King Charles III) back in 1982.

Now both of these paintings, titled "Portrait of Princess Diana" and "Portrait of Prince Charles," are hitting the auction block in London on Thursday, Oct. 10—and they could bring in some serious cash.

According to Phillips auction house, the "striking depictions of the young princess and (then) prince are based on Lord Snowdon’s official engagement photograph of the couple" and were created a year after the then-Prince and Princess of Wales's 1981 wedding.

Diana's painting is expected to bring in between £1.2 to £1.8 million (roughly $1.6 to $2.4 million), while the portrait of Charles is estimated at £1 to £1.5 million, or a casual $1.3 to $1.9 million.

In real life, Diana wore an emerald green gown with very 1980s puffed sleeves and bow trim for her official engagement portrait, snapped by Princess Margaret's ex-husband and celebrated photographer, Lord Snowdon. Warhol depicted the princess in more of a teal shade with the turquoise background matching her colorful blue-and-red hair.

In the painting (and the photograph it was based on) she wears a pair of dazzling diamond chandelier earrings and a matching necklace loaned to the bride-to-be by Collingwood jewelers.

While Warhol chose to paint Diana in a more monochromatic scheme, Prince Charles pops off the canvas with his black military uniform contrasting against a bright blue background.

This isn't the first time a Princess Diana-themed auction has brought in millions. In December 2023, a rather '80s drop-waisted black-and-purple frock worn by the late princess sold for a record-breaking $1.1 million. The wildest part of the sale was just how much Julien's Auctions underestimated the price, with the auction house announcing that the Jacques Azagury style was originally estimated at a mere $100,000.

A pink blouse worn by the royal in one of her engagement portraits also broke records, selling for $381,000 instead of its $80,000 estimate.

Keeping that in mind, who knows how much these Warhol originals will go for, but I will sadly have to bow out of this royal bidding action.

We're only a week into Renaissance: Act II, and Beyoncé is already making history in the mainstream music industry. Today, Billboard announced that the superstar's first two songs from her upcoming album, "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages," have made their debuts on the charts; "Texas Hold 'Em" landed at no. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, making Beyoncé the first-ever Black woman artist to top the rankings.

The upbeat line-dance track reached the top of the charts with 19.2 million streams last week, along with 39,000 traditional sales (per Luminate) and 4.8 million audience impressions from radio. Meanwhile, the epic ballad "16 Carriages" debuted at no. 9 on the Country chart, with 10.3 million streams, 14,000 sales, and 90,000 in radio reach.

As for the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, "Texas Hold 'Em" debuted at no. 2 and "16 Carriages" at no. 38, with Jack Harlow’s “Lovin on Me" winning a sixth consecutive week at no. 1.

The singer has also reached new heights as a genre-spanning artist. With her "Texas Hold 'Em" debut, Beyoncé has now gotten no. 1s on seven of Billboard’s charts as a solo artist: the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, Hot Gospel Songs, Hot Latin Songs, Hot R&B Songs, and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The only artist to lead more genre charts is Justin Bieber with eight no. 1s, though Bey could bring a tie on that front with her highly-speculated Act III release. (Fingers crossed on a rock album!)

After Beyoncé surprise-dropped the two country songs on Feb. 11, following her Verizon Super Bowl commercial, fans and entertainment insiders wondered whether she would be embraced in the largely traditional country industry, given the genre’s history of ignoring Black artists. While the singer has always been public about her country roots and previously dabbled in the genre ("Daddy Lessons" from 2016's Lemonade), this is her first time releasing an all-country project. Still, per Rolling Stone, streamers including Spotify and Apple Music quickly put "Texas Hold 'Em" at the top of their country playlists, while Beyoncé’s label Columbia Records officially promoted “Texas Hold ‘Em” to country radio on Feb. 14.

Since the Renaissance: Act II era begun, Beyoncé has been booked and busy, with the ultra-private singer making several public appearances. After she debuted her Act II style at the Super Bowl (following her sneak peek at the 2024 Grammys), Bey made her first New York Fashion Week appearance in several years to support her nephew Daniel Julez J. Smith Jr., Solange Knowles' son, as he modeled in Luar's runway show. She also attended the New York premiere of bestie Kelly Rowland's new Netflix film Mea Culpa. Not to mention, she's been hard at work promoting her brand-new haircare line Cécred.

Art is one of the oldest ways humans have sought to harness and create social change. From Picasso’s Guernica to Rosie the Riveter, Chicano muralism to Ai WeiWei’s irreverent middle finger—art and advocacy have a long and complex history. 

And it’s a relationship that has, in recent years, been further complicated as activism has grown in unprecedented ways. Buoyed by social media, the movements once relegated to basements and back rooms are now born—and spread like wildfire—on the internet. There have been countless examples of this in the past several years; from the Black Lives Matter movement to March for Our Lives, hashtags and Facebook pages are quickly commodified, turning (sometimes overnight) into full-blown businesses. 

Activism effected through art has been no exception, and artists can rarely put something into the world without confronting questions of creativity, ownership, and capitalism. Maybe Picasso faced these questions too, but in the age of memes, NFTs, and rapid information-sharing, artists must ask themselves what to do if their art (often without their permission or knowledge) takes on a life of its own?

Irish-born and Brooklyn-based graphic designer Deva Pardue, 33, was caught unawares by these uncertainties when she founded For All Womankind, "a design initiative for fempowerment," and created a 2016 “Femme Fists” image that later went viral. Most recently a creative director and designer for the likes of Pentagram Design, MoMA, and the Wing, she devised the motif and its merchandise to raise money for the Center for Reproductive Rights and Emily’s List in the wake of Donald Trump’s election. She provided a free download and, on the day of the 2017 Women's March on D.C., Rihanna posted it. Pardue had never waded into any kind of activism before, but she felt compelled at the time: “it sounds sort of like a cliché—you hear people being totally inspired and just have to do something, and it sort of takes over them. But that really was what it felt like to me.”

In designing the image, she didn’t have an objective in mind—she knew she wanted it to reflect intersectional feminist ideas, and thought she’d make some posters and a little extra money. “I didn't expect it to take off the way it did,” she says. (When all was said and done, Pardue donated around $25,000 from the proceeds.)

Still, while she’s closely associated with the art, she describes feeling “disconnected” from it. "It sort of entered the zeitgeist and is no longer a part of me or belongs to me,” she says. "I'm not an illustrator... and aesthetically it doesn't really feel like a lot of my work." She describes her personal designs as "typography-driven" and says "a large part of my job is curation"—forming brand identities and marketing campaigns and working with a team (photographers, stylists, illustrators, etc.) to execute that vision. Though she loves that people began making their own versions of the image, even getting it tattooed, "it definitely got pretty infuriating," she says, when corporations—including the Walmart-owned clothing brand ModCloth—began using it without her permission.

It was, she reflects, a wonderful but complicated experience. And while the independent creative director and designer is still politically active, Pardue keeps activism work separate from her art. “If I felt the same way as I did in that moment—angry and helpless—and felt the need to make something, of course I would,” she says, “but I think right now everybody just feels a wee a bit tired.”

 Artist Zaria Forman 39, had, conversely, been searching for a larger purpose for her work, one that would consciously speak to a sociopolitical issue. A few years out of college with an art degree, she wanted to use it to make “more than a pretty image for someone’s wall.” The purpose of her work, she says, became “crystal clear” after a visit to Greenland in 2007, where she witnessed first-hand the effect of the climate crisis on scientists, reporters, and government officials there to study it, "and, of course, the locals who were already having to adapt their lifestyle due to warming temperatures. That experience opened my eyes to the climate emergency." Her hyper-realistic drawings of beaches as well as cracked and severed icebergs—stunning and also devastating—seek to give “people a chance to experience remote landscapes at the forefront of climate change.” 

Forman’s work documents climate change, and the artist, who lives in upstate New York, describes her climate activism and art as one and the same. Working with photos and her memories of places like Greenland, Antarctica, The Maldives, and Norway, she tries to depict exactly what she saw in great detail, in order to “transport viewers to that place in time.” “It's impossible not to fall in love with these places once you witness them,” she says, “and when you love something, you want to protect it.”

The impact has been far-reaching. In addition to giving a 2015 TED Talk with over 1.6 million views, she has flown with NASA on several Operation IceBridge missions (the largest ever airborne survey of the earth's polar ice). Forman, who is represented by Winston Wächter Fine Art, has provided images used in an OnlyOne campaign for marine conservation in Antarctica. She donated work for a Christie's auction to help conserve an entire Guatemalan cloud forest.

But for artists to take up a cause with their work—especially in these times, with the threat of cancellation and rampant social media criticism—is no easy task. Some  simply stick to corporate work, and that’s what Hanifa Abdul Hameed, 27, did for a time, working as a corporate UX/UI designer at IBM, before she started creating some of the boldest political art on the internet. She’s best known for her #VoteForAunty design, created when Kamala Harris was on the campaign trail. It depicts the Vice President with a bindi, mehndi, and traditional Indian jewelry next to the slogan (‘aunty’ is a term of respect for older women in many Asian cultures). Another iteration saw Harris, who is half Indian, in a sari. The V.P. campaign didn't use it officially or reach out to her, she says, but the images were reposted on social media "nonstop" after the victory. "I did hear from countless South Asian women about how they felt about the way I represented her," she says. There were positive and negative thoughts: "Her skin color wasn't exactly the right color; they didn't like that her culture was being portrayed more than the policies she stood for; calling her 'aunty' didn't seem appropriate to some," but, overall, "the positive outweighed the negative" and "most people loved that she was wearing something that portrayed her South Asian identity." 

But while she has been drawing since childhood, it was only during the pandemic that the New Jersey-based Hameed started making work that speaks to social justice. She was raised in a fairly conservative Indian family and describes the initial experience of expressing her personal and political views via art as “frightening.” 

“I was hesitant because I wasn't used to sharing artwork that was so hard hitting,” she says, recalling the moment she released her very first piece, an image of a woman hiding her face against a backdrop of flowers, which she made after watching a Pakistani television show about how society treats rape victims. And many of her works are equally striking, speaking to topics like gun violence, abortion, racism, and sexism. “All of the artwork I create is influenced by either experiences I've faced, or a friend has,” she notes. "It reflects what’s happening around the world, and in my life.” 

The goal, says Hameed, is to promote awareness and representation; in other words, to communicate some of the many social and political experiences of South Asian women and other women of color. “That’s really my drive to create this sort of art.” In addition to her Instagram, her art is available on Society6. 

And while it’s complex, and often risky, there’s a reason why art has been a pillar of social justice for centuries. “Psychology has proven that we take action and make decisions based on our emotions more than anything else,” Foreman muses. “It taps into our emotions in a way that statistics and news stories may not… But we need the numbers, the statistics, the news, and the art. We need all the tools in the toolbox.” 

Click here to read the full Creators Issue.

This week, Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain's first exhibition in North America in more than two decades, The Great Animal Orchestra, opens to the public at the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem, MA. After working with musicians like The Doors and the Rolling Stones in the late 1960s and making music for films such as Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, musician and soundscape ecologist Bernie Krause took to recording natural environments. Krause uses the tool of recording the complex and layered sounds of animals to understand the health of an environment; sadly, he has returned to habitats he has recorded since the 1970s to find that that half of the biodiversity previously recorded is no longer present. 

The immersive experience—on now through May 22, 2022—comes to life with visualizations, created by United Visual Artists, of each animal member's contributions to the "orchestra" in several vulnerable habitats across the world, such as the ocean, and the countries of Zimbabwe and Brazil. The piece stands as a warning to protect precious biodiversity and a spark to bring awareness to the importance of environmental conversation all over the world. Jane Winchell, PEM’s Director of the Art & Nature Center and Curator of Natural History says, “The Great Animal Orchestra is a highly original and memorable encounter that stays with you long after you leave. I found myself listening more intently and with greater awareness of how animal sounds serve as messengers of an ecosystem’s vitality.” 

In our series MC Muse, savvy women from around the world share their style, their ambitions, and the most coveted pieces to shop right now.

Lindsay Adams has lived her 30 years with cerebral palsy, a motor disability that affects her speech, movement, and balance. “People with disabilities are often left out of the conversation,” Adams explains. “I think there’s an unfortunate stigma and monolith associated with living with [a disability].” Art has been a release. With a natural flair for it, Adams picked up drawing around the age of four, and by 14, the young artist began painting with oils. “It was my own form of communication—my peace and my protest,” she says.

After graduating from The University of Richmond, where Adams minored in studio art and triple-majored in international studies, world politics, and Spanish, she felt societal pressure to take a traditional career path. In D.C., Adams began working as a marketing strategist. But her lifelong hobbies of drawing and painting became a grounding force as she experienced both life and work changes. Pivoting her art from part-time craft to platform for marginalized communities has become a goal for Adams, even more so as the political and social challenges of 2020 unfolded.

“I was scared when I first started talking about the space that I occupy and I didn’t know if it was my place to speak out or how it was going to be received,” she explains. But over time, the D.C.-based artist and advocate has found herself leading discussions around disability and inclusivity. “I have this unique perspective living at the intersection of being a Black woman and being disabled,” she says.

Adam's portfolio of work is layered with movement, vibrant colors, and textured brush strokes. Her subjects range from portraits to florals to the female form and largely center on accepting ones individual space and identity. “There are a lot of imperfect things that exist in my humanhood. I would be remiss not to share that part of me,” she says. “I’ve come to realize that I'm a voice, a representation, a decision maker, and a story teller.”

She is currently being featured alongside 12 other artists in Varsity Blues at New York’s Allouche Gallery. The exhibition touches on the racial, social, and socio-economic inequities that exist within America’s higher education system—made more evident by the 2019 college admissions scandal. We sat down with the artist to hear about her inspirations, using fashion as an extension of her art, and how she juggles her full-time marketing career alongside her art and advocacy work.

Marie Claire: Just curious, when do you find the time to paint?

Lindsay Adams: Well, let me tell you. I have to be very strategic about timing. I paint early in the mornings and in the evenings. Weekends are also committed to painting and researching. For my Varsity Blues exhibition, I read a lot of books and listened to some Cornell lectures to help inform my work on confronting identity and the racial dynamics of the 20th and 21st centuries.

My disability is something I could keep to myself, but it's been really important to me to be vocal about it. When I was seven or eight, I didn't see people with disabilities. When I paint, I'm occupying the space as my whole self, not just the parts of me that are convenient or pretty. You know?

MC: Who are some of the women that inspire you?

LA: Amanda Gorman and the way she uses her voice. Not living, but Maya Angelou totally inspired my art with her stories. Also, my mom.

MC: How would you describe your style?

LA: I often look at clothing and fashion as another form of paint, with the body being the canvas. I think fashion gives us a space to communicate who we are and our creativity in a very upfront sense.

I love fashion. I like to build an outfit similar to how I build up layers and textures of paint. I like pops of color and always go for statement pieces. I’ll never skip out on an opportunity to get dressed. I find some of my favorite designers on Instagram: Source Unknown, Local European, and Dress Article are a few. Oh, and Tibi! I also love thrifting and second-hand [stores].

MC: What's one piece of empowering advice you have for women?

LA: I think we are often forced to confront sides of ourselves that are uncomfortable, especially when we don't even know where we fit in. I've been really coming into this concept of grace and space. I think there's a never ending task of embracing oneself, and as a result it encourages others to do the same. It’s not always going to be convenient to speak up, but it will be okay.

Shop Some of Lindsay's Favorite Pieces:

Museums may have shuttered for the summer, but that doesn’t mean we can no longer absorb and appreciate the art of female creators. Art has the incredible power to challenge, teach, and open our eyes to new perspectives. “One of the things that art does is it can actually challenge you to think more deeply or differently about identity, how we see it, or what we actually think it is,” says Isolde Brielmaier, curator-at-large at the International Center for Photography (ICP) in New York City and former executive director and curator of arts, culture and community at Westfield World Trade Center.

Though Black women artists have been creating power works for centuries, the mainstream art world hasn’t always been an inclusive space. “While it has a long way to go in terms of inclusivity and equity and parity,” says Brielmaier, “I would argue things have opened up a little bit. There's a greater number of Black artists that are being shown at institutions.” Below, we highlight just five of the many Black women artists shaping the art world and defining culture at large.

Saya Woolfalk

Saya Woolfalk’s work often uses elements of science fiction and fantasy to expose and contend with truths of the real world we live in today (she even designed a totally fictional race of women called The Empathics, often displayed in her work). The dimensions she creates in her work are fantastical enough to cause pause, yet close enough to reality to make one draw comparisons.

“There's something definitely utopic about the world that she creates,” says Brielmaier. “She's creating this universe that’s populated by these hybrid figures that are an amalgamation of different cultural elements. And some of them relate to her own background.” In fact, Woolfalk’s transnational background (she was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and a mixed-race father, and currently resides in New York) does indeed inform her unique style, a saturated and graphic exploration that’s distinctly hers.

Tschabalala Self

Famed for her paintings that put the Black female body in center focus, Self has swept through the art world faster than it takes paint (her main medium) to dry. After earning her MFA at the Yale School of Art in 2015, her work was put on display everywhere from the Baltimore Museum of Art to Art Basal, Miami. Self’s work has hammered for record-breaking prices, one even fetching $476,000 with fees, five times the initial estimate; she’s also collaborated with fashion designers, such as Louis Vuitton. You can catch her latest exhibit "Out of Body" at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston before it closes on September 7 (due to COVID, entry is limited).

Delita Martin

By fusing “signs, symbols, and language” from everyday life, Delita Martin is able to piece together the stories of marginalized Black women and represent those stories via striking figures. She often also draws generational connections and comparisons in her pieces, and her mother and grandmother serve as muses for many of her figures. Her multi-layered prints are seeping with bright color (a favorite hue is blue, which she says connects best to the spiritual world); her subjects are larger-than-life and command the canvas.

Until you can appreciate her pieces in person, for now, enjoy her work virtually: The National Museum of Women In The Arts in in Washington, D.C. is featuring a solo exhibit called “calling Down The Spirits.”

April Bey

April Bey’s work is incredibly vibrant and brimming with bright energy. It feels fun to look at, yet it grapples with difficult concepts, including race within an American, white supremacist system. “Her work is pleasing to the eye,” says Brielmaier. “But then when you scan the surface and get into some of the details, you realize that [it] packs a potent punch.”

Bey grew up in the Caribbean and now lives in Los Angeles; her collage-style work draws inspiration from global influences and often serves as a cultural critique of concepts including pop culture, feminism, social media and AfroFuturism (one series is entitled "Afrofuturist Womanism" includes a piece featuring the one and only Beyoncé).

Xaviera Simmons

Xaviera Simmons’ body of work is expansive, and over the years she has experimented with different mediums, including photography, video, performance, sound, and sculpture. The ability that Simmons has to navigate through different formats is transcendent.

“I don't think that she feels she has to adhere to kind of any one particular style or sort of vision of her work,” says Brielmaier. “And that's tremendous. You imagine that sense of freedom.” Simmons smashes the notion that an artist must stay within their own medium. Compelling and deliberate, her work (specifically, her work in photography) demands extended viewing.

Black Lives Matter

If you, like me, are always on the hunt for your next great art find, you've come to the right place. While it's fun now and then to hop on a trendy home decor website, pick a basic print, and be on your way, I'd argue there's no better feeling than buying a meaningful piece by an up-and-coming creative to support the person who created it. In light of the current protests going on in our country, it's important to commit yourself to investing in Black creatives, now and always. Ahead, 16 Black female artists whose talents range from mixed media to graphic design. Get ready to make some more room on your walls; I know I am.

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If you have a monochrome space that could use a small, vibrant piece, you've found the print of all prints. The small yellow sunglasses throughout will add a nice pop of color while also serving as a reminder of just how awesome girls are.

Check out more of Charles' work on Instagram here.

A home isn't a home until you have some kind of animal print in it. I said what I said! 

Check out more of Dandy's work on Instagram here.  

Fullarton's attention to detail makes my heart flutter. I'm all about texture when it comes to picking pieces for my home, and this checks all the boxes. 

Check out more of Fullarton's work on Instagram here.   

Khadija's take on 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' by Johannes Vermeer is the definition of classic cool.  

Support more of her work by checking out her art page on Instagram here. 

In case you need a reminder, consider this it. The futuristic colors and feel of this piece makes me feel like I'm in another universe entirely, which sometimes isn't a bad thing.  

Check out more of Peathefeary's work on Instagram here.   

Title says it all—am I right, or am I right? Consider this a nice little reminder of when you danced with your friends in crowded bars. 

Check out more of Harris' work on Instagram here. 

The closest I'm getting to owning a fish bowl is this painting, and I have absolutely no regrets. 

Check out more of Allen's work on Instagram here.  

Using pictures from the photographic archives of the Library of Congress, great/grand/golden tells the story of the black American experience like no other. All of the proceeds from their shop this month go directly to the Emergency Release Fund, which helps keep trans people safe and out of jail. 

Check out more of great/grand/golden work on Instagram here.  

My mood is instantly lifted with the colors in this photo. It also makes me want to go seek out a matching outfit with my mother immediately. 

Check out more of Brown's work on Instagram here.  

Oh, to be swimming in a pink river away from civilization with company I love and adore. 

Check out more of Akujixxv's work on Instagram, here. 

If it's wrong to want to spend my days lounging about with small, delicate flowers in my luscious curls, then I don't want to be right! 

Check out more of Magbadelo's work on Instagram here.  

What's arguably known as the most famous kiss ever feels more intimate and more inclusive in this piece of art from Lefebvre. 

Check out more of Lefebvre's work on Instagram, here. 

Putting this up in your WFH space will serve as a reminder that days filled with warm weather, a cute swimsuit, and your best friends are on the horizon.  

Check out more of Dahir's work on Instagram here. 

Despite all the fights my sister and I have had over clothes, I would still go to infinity and beyond for her. This print is a nice reminder. 

Check out more of Barlow's work on Instagram here. 

Don't get me wrong, the Mona Lisa is a great piece of art, but just something in me would rather have Solange Knowles framed on my wall. 

Check out more of Young's work on Instagram here. 

Get ready to be reminded of the wonders and colors of spring and summer all year long. One glance is an instant happiness boost. 

Check out more of Jackson's work on Instagram here. 

This one goes out to all the girls who have their head stuck in the clouds: You guys are on to something. Today, United Airlines announced that they are dedicating some serious real estate to female artists in the form of two Boeing 757 planes, bringing their artistic vision in the sky.

Fifty-one percent of artists are women, yet less than 13 percent of art on display in museums is by female artists. United is hoping to help correct this industry-wide problem: They launched Her Art Here this spring, a contest that encouraged cisgender, transgender, woman-aligned, and non-binary people to submit original designs to appear on the outside body of a United jet. A panel of judges, comprised of United’s top execs, picked two winners (one who hails from the East Coast and one from the West Coast), Corinne Antonelli and Tsungwei Moo. With the help of internationally-praised visual artist Shantell Martin, each women will get to recreate their masterpieces on the body of a twin-engine airliner. The plane (roughly 3,666 times larger than a traditional canvas) will fly year-round, covering approximately 1.6 million miles in distance over nearly 500 cross-country trips, giving the winners major exposure.

Both deserve it: New Jersey native and Ringling College of Art and Design student Antonelli, who won for the East Coast division, decided to enter the competition to help inspire other women to pursue art as a career. “I wanted to be able to set that example,” she says. “I felt a lot of pressure from the stereotype that girls in art can’t have a successful career. I want people to know that that’s not true.” For West Coast winner, Moo, who emigrated to San Francisco from Taiwan on a United plane at age 14 and has been building up a body of the work in the city since, it was the opportunity to get even more female artists in the game. “Female artists have been working on gender equality representation for decades,” she says. “We are halfway there. It’s our generation of female artists that will be responsible to make this happen, to let the world see more works by women.”

For both winners, the competition was more than just seeing their work in the sky. It was also about encouraging every girl out there to feel empowered to do the same. According to their mentor Martin, “We need more prospective, more exposure, more viewpoints. It's clear to see what is happening around the round without them. This is a small part we all can play.”

If you ever needed another excuse to book a trip, this is it: Starting October 2019, you could actually fly in one of the beautifully decorated planes. Talk about traveling in style.

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There's one activity that's been keeping everyone busy this weekend, and that's taking a selfie with the Google Arts and Culture Face-Match app. The magical app takes your photo, and then finds your museum doppelgänger, and the results range from spooky to downright hilarious.

The app first launched in 2016, letting users browse art from more than a thousand museums. But the newly introduced Face-Match feature is already proving to be a big hit on social media, with users readily sharing their results. All you need to do is download the Google Arts and Culture app, and take photo of yourself. Unfortunately, you can't upload your hottest selfie, but have to take a new photo for it to work. After you've posed, the app will match your face to a famous artwork somewhere in the world.

In case you need convincing that you should try the Google Arts and Culture Face-Match app immediately, here are some of the most brilliant results that social media has to offer:

1. That smile.

2. The time traveler.

3. The confidence boost.

4. Making your friends do it.

5. Not everyone likes the result.

6. Nailed it.

7. It's addictive.

8. When the app wins.

9. Feeling so great.

10. Who do I sue?

11. In another lifetime...

12. Using a cat as a hat.

13. When the likeness is uncanny.

14. No cats allowed.

15. A head on a stick.

16. "I am art."

17. Separated at birth.

18. It's all in the eyes.

19. Stop rolling your eyes... it's pretty accurate.

20. What happened?

21. Gilmore Girls as art.

While we may not all be blessed with the courage to ask for a body of tattoos like Rihanna (we're more of the Kendall Jenner "tiny ink dot aaaaaaand we're done" mentality), we're always here for a vicarious glimpse into the lives of the brave souls who do live for ink. Here we browse through the best tattoo feeds on Instagram, from the artist who tats up all our favorite celebrities to the best far-flung artistes around the world.

1. Keith McCurdy of Bang Bang NYC

Keith McCurdy of Bang Bang NYC had an unusual start to his career, buying his first tattoo machine at 18 and inking his first celebrity at the age of 20 (NBD, it was just Rihanna). Now he counts celebrities like Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Adele, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, and Cara Delevingne among his tatted clientele, who have helped him launch his career as one of the most sought-after artists in the business. Find shots of his latest projects on his Instagram, plus photos of him with his many famous canvases.

2. Tea Leigh

Brooklyn artist Tea Leigh has one of the prettiest feeds on the web and her hand-poked tattoos are some of our favorites to browse online because of the sheer artistry of the line work—from tarot characters to animals and florals. P.S.We're big fans of her "don't f*ck with me" patches, too.

3. Sashaunisex

One ink trend that's taken off over the past few years is the watercolor tattoo, a vibrant design in the style of a free-form painting, where colors seamlessly blend into each other. For watercolor styles Sashaunisex is one of the best, specializing in colorful renderings of flowers and animals that resemble storybook illustrations.

4. Kerry Burke Tattoos

North Carolina-based artist Kerry Burke recreates everything from botanicals to Harry Potter motifs, but we feel like we need this one tattooed somewhere (anywhere) on our body, especially.

5. David Cote

David Cote is a man of details—and for intricate colorful tattoos that resemble paintings, he's one of the biggest talents on the scene. Here, he's illustrated Escher's solar system on a man's forearm in striking detail, making galaxy nails look like child's play.

6. Daisy Watson of DaisyDoesTattoos

You would have to take a trip out to Berlin just to have Daisy Watson's quirky cartoon designs inked on your body, but for now her Instagram feed is the gift that keeps on giving.

7. Pony Reinhardt Tattoo

Pony Reinhardt's elaborate designs always feature detailed line work, and her fine art creations have even shown in the Smithsonian. She draws much of her inspiration from the natural world, creating alchemical diagrams and intricate landscapes.

8. Pis Saro of Pissaro Tattoo

Crimean artist Pis Saro's nature-inspired watercolor designs make up one of the most mesmerizing feeds out there. It's half travel diary and half a celebration of her delicate ink designs which often end up on intimate areas of women's chests and thighs. Our favorites, though, are her elaborate back tattoos, that elegantly trail down the length of the spine.

9. Rebecca Vincent of London Parliament Tattoo

Rebecca Vincent of London's Parliament Tattoo masters in subtlety, as seen in the shadow work perfected in her B&W designs of flora and fauna.

10. Ashley Love

For a more retro take on colored tattoos, Utah-based Ashley Love models her designs after vintage folk art, whether capturing pinup girls or the traditional "mom" tattoos of cartoon lore.

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Confession: I don't really have a minimalist aesthetic. (Have you seen these?) I just have bare white walls because I'm not a girl but not yet the Catherine de Medici-like patroness I always knew I'd become.

For those of us between Audrey Hepburn posters and Alexander Calder mobiles (I wish), buying real, non-disposable art can seem intimidating and maybe a little bit hopeless if you've got MoMA taste on an IKEA budget. Don't despair—below, we've laid out everything you need to know to begin building a collection that might just earn you a museum wing someday. Or a placard—a placard's cool too.

First, there's that imaginary barbed wire surrounding the "art world," like, "Ooooh. Keep out if you don't own a mega yacht or aren't a Russian oligarch." Then, there's the self-imposed sense of inadequacy: What if I buy stupid stuff? What if my eye sucks?

Girl, relax. You don't have to have a Swiss bank account or a formal education to own some pieces of canvas stretched over some wood—you just have to know what you like. Flip through some books, brush up on your vocab, maybe subscribe to a magazine, but above all, know that you should only put money down on something you like, not because it's "a good investment" or might appreciate in price later. And in any case, better to be bad than boring, I always say.

Easy. Small usually means lower price, big means more moola. Same deal with edition sizes. It's smart to check a database like artsalesindex.artinfo.com to see what similar works are going for.

There are loads of websites that sell quality, affordable art. From The Posters, you can get a Curtis Kulig or a trippy Simone Shubuck for $55 each, and ArtStar.com offers limited-edition, signed, and numbered prints range from $50 to $750. Plus, this way, if you're scared to set foot in a gallery because of that Bravo show, you don't have to talk to anyone!

Keep works on paper away from direct sunlight, and if it goes on a wall, it should be behind ultraviolet light-resistance glass on acid-free matting. As for when it comes to actually coughing up the money for a piece that speaks to you, don't be afraid to negotiate: lower shipping costs and paying in installments are pretty common deals.

Maybe someday it'll be worth something, maybe it won't. The point is that you enjoyed it, which, by itself, is valuable enough.

You should also check out:

These Photos Of Beyoncé, Jay Z and Blue Ivy As Art Are Everything

Where to Shop For Your Apartment *Besides* Ikea

You've Probably Seen This Guy's Forged Art in a Museum

Jean Paul Gaultier arrived in Brooklyn, New York early last week to put the finishing touches on his acclaimed traversing exhibition, The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk.

As the seventh venue to play host to Gaultier's more than 140 magnificent looks of haute couture and ready-to-wear ensembles, the Brooklyn Museum celebrated with a grand opening last Wednesday joined by Brooklyn Museum Director Arnold L. Lehman and model muses Farida Khelfa, Coco Rocha and Karlie Kloss. In addition, WSJ Editor-in-Chief, Kristina O'Neill, hosted a one-on-one interview with exhibition curator Thierry-Maxime Loriotn and Monsieur Gaultier this past Friday.

While the exhibition begins with JPG's signature breton stripe collection in a cerulean illuminated room, the provocative designer took it one step further by projecting moving faces on each of his mannequins. "I was inspired by a play I saw during my yearly trips to the theater festival in Avignon, France," the French designer told us in a personal interview. "I remember seeing rows of actors in a small, dark room and I was so surprised to realize they were not real at the end of the play. I thought it was incredible."

Starting with his premier designs from the 1970's, Gaultier's retrospect shows off his meticulous construction of cage corsets, leather-punk embellishments and most notably, his boudoir "cone bra" collection so famously worn by Madonna for her 1990's "Blond Ambition" tour. But the real star of the show is "Nana" – Gaultier's childhood teddy bear on whom he created his first cone bra inspired by his grandmother's brassiere.

Jean Paul Gaultier's exhibition offers close up, awe-inspiring insights guaranteed to heighten your senses and for the first time is offering works from his most recent collections along with stage costumes worn by Beyoncé. The exhibition is on display now at the Brooklyn Museum and runs through February 24, 2014. This is one you surely do not want to miss.

Photos courtesy of Nausheen Shah

Buying your first piece of original art is a lot like, well, other first-time experiences. It may seem a little scary at first, but you quickly discover the thrill of it. Once you hang the first original piece in your home, you'll be hooked for life. When I advise first-time art buyers, I give the following tips.

1. Do your research. Start by visiting galleries and museums and browsing online galleries to get an idea of the type of art you like. Whenever possible, ask questions, such as the artist's background, the subject matter, or the media used. You'll begin to develop your taste and learn about the artistic process.

2. Set a budget. You can find unique and well-made artwork for as little as a few hundred dollars, so it's important to define your budget. As you do your research, you'll also begin to get an idea of the typical costs of different styles and media--for example, photography tends to cost less than oil paintings. Once you have a budget, you can focus your attention on the galleries and media that cater to your range.

3. Shop with your whole house in mind. When buying your first piece, or any work thereafter, you should consider the rest of your decor. You want to find artwork that will complement and enhance your furnishings. As you purchase more art, having a stylistic direction will make a big difference in the overall appearance of your home and collection.

4. Check the return policy. As a new art buyer, a return policy can be extremely useful. Many online and physical galleries will give you the option to try out a piece in your home. Art can look very different in your home than on a gallery wall or on a website, so I highly recommend asking about the return policy.

5. Buy what you love. Above all, trust your gut when purchasing art. When you find the right piece you will know it--you won't be able to get the image out of your head! Don't focus too much energy on the future value of the work. Some art becomes worth a lot more, but purchasing for investment is an expert's game. Stick to your heart and your budget and you can't go wrong.

On the ten-year anniversary of Art Basel Miami, the Swiss-born contemporary art festival has evolved into something so much more spectacular than anyone in the city would have ever imagined years ago. Art Basel began as a single art fair at the Miami Beach Convention Center and now there are dozens of satellite fairs, concerts, and fashion events that add depth and excitement to, what is arguably, the most wonderful week and biggest party of the year in Miami. The 10-year-anniversary celebration will include free outdoor performances and live art, as well as a large-scale outdoor project called Art Video.

We've included our "must-sees" and "must-dos" for an unforgettable Art Basel experience below. But beware — sleep isn't one of them!

PULSE Miami

The Ice Palace, 1400 North Miami Ave.

Dec. 1 - 4

Less chi-chi (and less expensive) than Art Basel, which takes place at the Miami Beach Convention Center, PULSE presents and promotes large-scale sculptures, installations, and performances. The art fair focuses on contemporary art and society and is both an indoor and outdoor exhibit, for art-lovers who want to get a little tanning in at the same time.

Le Baron Pop-Up Party

The Florida Room, 1685 Collins Ave. Admission by guest list only.

Through Dec. 5

It's been called the traveling Studio 54 and now for the fourth year in a row, this Parisian nightclub takes over the Florida Room during the week of Art Basel. Le Baron is the perfect spot for a late-night soiree, if you can get in that is. Lines of people speaking English, Spanish, and of course French, wrap around the side of the Delano Hotel waiting to be let in, so make sure to RSVP to this epic party.

FENDI "Craft Alchemy" at Design Miami

Meridian Ave. & 19th St., adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Through Dec. 4, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Designer Elisa Strozyk and artist Sebastian Neeb team up for this Design Performance installation and transform discarded FENDI leather into antique-style furniture. The project is inspired by an original room at Palazzo FENDI, the company's international headquarters, built around 1700.

Graffiti Gone Global

The Rotunda Space, 3252 NE 1st Ave., Suite 101

Dec. 1- Dec. 4. Check website for schedule

GGG is back for the fifth consecutive year, showcasing urban contemporary art and design. This year, the show will highlight famed architect Marc Fornes, designer and architect Volkan Alkanoglu, creative artist and curator Billi Kid, digital agency Branger-Briz, and other talented urban contemporary artists. Sponsored by Sushi Samba, last year's gallery exhibit featured music and free caipirinhas -- it was a blast!

Mason Martin Margiela presents "Love, etc."

Maison Martin Margiela, 3930 NE 2nd Ave., Suite 101

Through Dec. 3. Admission to cocktail reception by guest list only.

An off-site installation and cocktail reception near the Maison's Miami store will feature seven large panels, each with different images of the interiors at La Maison Champs-Elysées as well as objects belonging to the design objects collection from Line 13. Everything will be displayed twice in order to create a mirror effect.

Refinery29 Miami Launch

Cafeina Wynwood Lounge, 297 NW 23rd St. Admission by guest list only.

Thurs. Dec. 1 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Check website for more Art Basel events and installations at Cafeina.

GUESS and Motorola are hosting the launch of fashion, beauty, and shopping website Refinery29's Miami edition. The party will be a "night of drinking, dancing, and temporary-tattooing" according to Refinery, and artist Justin Belmont has created a Warhol-inspired art garden especially for the party.

Friends with You presents "Inner Space, the Secrets of the Unknown!"

3930 NE 2nd Ave., Suite 202

Dec. 1 - Jan 28 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

After witnessing last year's "Rainbow City", a larger than life 40-piece environmental installation by Friends with You artists Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval II, we know "Inner Space" will be incredible, too! The guys promise that this year's exhibit at their studio space will be filled with many "magical surprises."

Basel Castle

The Overthrow Castle, 41 NW 20th St.

Dec. 3, from 5 p.m. to 4 a.m.

This party happens one night a year and we hear it's awesome! Who doesn't want to party in a castle? There will be great music, live art, and installations by artists such as Ron English, Sam Flores, Tara McPherson, Jeremy Fish, Mark Bode, and Greg Mike.

OHWOW presents "It Ain't Fair"

81 NE 40th St.

Dec. 1 - 4, Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"It Ain't Fair" is back for the fourth time and the theme of the exhibit is materialism. "It Aint Fair" differs from many contemporary art exhibitions because instead of exploring the abstract, it focuses on "the physicality of artwork, the matter that constitutes an object, and the new methods employed by artists toward approaching material."

THE JOB: Real-Estate Agent

"Think neutral suit with a single pop of color. Dress too sexy or distracting and you become easy to dismiss. "

Sale vs. Fail

DOS:

Constant maintenance of shoes, manicure, roots (if you color your hair).

Fitted, not tight, silhouettes; conservative length and shapes for skirts and pants (you can sell palazzos, but not wear them!)

Jackets in striking colors.

DON'TS:

Low-cut or see-through blouses, booty- licious pants or minis

Visible bra straps or thong (obviously!)

Open-toed, strappy sandals or stilettos—they look silly with a hard hat

BROKER IN TRAINING: Natalie Birinyi, 20, student at Columbia University

EXPERT: Ariana Meyerson, managing director, Cantor-Pecorella (markets $1 million–$10 million apartments in Manhattan)

FORMALITY FACTOR: (8.5/10) "There are no casual Fridays, even on a construction site."

THE GOAL: "If you're showing people beautiful properties all day, aesthetics are obviously important. Your clothes signal to clients that they can trust your taste. That said, real-estate development is so male-dominated that women have to work harder to be taken seriously. Dress in a way that's distracting and you become easy to dismiss."

THE MUST-HAVES: "A charcoal, black, or navy suit with a single pop of color—it's classic, with a twist. I'm an urban nomad, chasing taxis and navigating construction sites, so my shoes have to hold up. I live in these black Louboutins because they're not too high. And as I work 12-plus-hour days, I always slip on the Oscar de la Renta flats between appointments."

THE FASHION DISASTER: "I was seeing a new property with a group of colleagues, and some of the young agents were wearing seriously short skirts. Afterward, the male brokers couldn't remember the address, the flooring, the finishes—only the minis."

DRESS FOR SUCCESS: "When you're starting out and don't have a lot to spend, invest in a few fantastic designer pieces you can mix and match. With a starter suit from maybe Theory in charcoal gray or black—and matching skirt and pants for more mileage—you can still afford to go a little crazy with camisoles and colorful accessories from H&M."

FINISH THE LOOK: "Keep makeup and jewelry simple. I tend to buff, not polish, my nails, but you can use a neutral pink like Essie's Ballet Slippers. I also wear my hair down to balance the masculinity of the suit."

On Natalie Birinyi, left: Jacket, $690, Camilla and Marc; top, $275, White + Warren; pants, $245, Vera Wang Lavender Label; shoes, $310, Tory Burch; belt, $44, White House Black Market.

On Ariana Meyerson, right: Pants, $700, The Row; shoes, $695, Christian Louboutin; Meyerson's own jewelry and Gucci coat.

THE JOB: Model

"Avoid tent dresses—clients need to see your body. And always wear a nude Calvin Klein G-string, the industry standard."

The shoot vs. The boot

DOS:

Short shorts are hot, micro miniskirts are hoochie

Dress super-simply but spend on fabulous designer heels (clients will assume you're getting a lot of bookings!)

Invest in a classic fitted leather jacket—with AC, you can wear it even in summer

DON'TS:

Baggy tops and tent dresses—clients need to be able to see your body

Worrying about having the right bag—no one pays attention

Expensive, flashy jewelry—simple stuff keeps the focus on you!

NOVICE MODEL: Nataniele Ribeiro, 17, student and model in Brazil

EXPERT: May Andersen, former Victoria's Secret and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, now designs denim line Chick With Guns

FORMALITY FACTOR: (1/10) "For go-sees with potential clients, less is more: Wear a fitted T-shirt or tank with skinny jeans or shorts."

THE GOAL: "You have to look confident at all costs. The nature of modeling is to be judged on your looks; you can't take it personally."

THE MUST-HAVES: "Fabulous jeans that you can dress up or down. A skinny pair will make your legs look longer—especially with classic, sexy Manolos. Flats are fine, but heels give you better posture and show your client that you know how to walk in them. Avoid wearing white; it can make anyone look bigger. I favor all-black outfits, since they're slimming and work well for day or night. In this business, bras are optional."

THE FASHION DISASTER: "I've seen young models show up for go-sees looking like something out of America's Next Top Model—totally over the top in some crazy punk outfit. Clients only want to see you as a blank canvas so they can picture you in their clothes."

DRESS FOR SUCCESS: "Since you have to be prepared to try on all types of clothes—even bathing suits—always wear a Calvin Klein nude G-string, the industry staple given to the models at most major fashion shows."

FINISH THE LOOK: "Pull your hair back so they can see your face. Generally no makeup for high-fashion jobs, like runway and couture, though you might wear concealer and mascara for commercial clients like a cosmetics company. And thanks to Photoshop, you don't have to worry about your tattoos!"

On May Andersen, left: Plaid shirt, $14.99, Charlotte Russe; shorts, $200, May Andersen for Chick With Guns; shoes, $550, Sergio Rossi; tights, $42, Wolford; Andersen's own bracelet, rings, Calvin Klein tank, and WFR necklace. On Nataniele Ribeiro, right: Top, $48, Michael Stars; jeans, $200, May Andersen for Chick With Guns; shoes, $660, Christian Louboutin; necklace (worn as bracelet), $575, Iosselliani; ring, $760, Chanel; Ribeiro's own Elise Overland jacket. 

THE JOB: GALLERISTA

"A button-down shirt would be too boring. Butdon't show up in an avant-garde tutu—it's still a job, not a fashion show. "

Art vs. Tart

DOS:

Search flea markets, vintage and thrift shops, and Mom's—and Grandma's!—attic and jewelry box

Have a go-to LBD you can dress up or down—mine's an '80s Alaïa

As Coco Chanel decreed, when you're all finished getting dressed, take one thing off

Wear metallic shoes—they function like neutrals but are more interesting than black

DON'TS: Being scared of prints, or mixing prints; in the art world, eclectic is good

Avoiding the '70s. I love that era's flair—it's such a distinct style reference

Copying a look exactly—you have to make it your own, organically

GALLERISTA IN PROGRESS: Saskia Miller, 26, student at the Free University of Berlin

EXPERT: Giada Torri, director of events and exhibits at New York City's Milk Gallery

FORMALITY FACTOR: (5/10) "This is a creative environment; you can do skinny jeans and vests. A button-down shirt or a suit would be too boring."

THE GOAL: "When we're trying to recruit important or upcoming artists, it's crucial to represent the gallery. Of course, no one shows up in an avant-garde tutu—it's still a job, not a fashion show."

THE MUST-HAVES: "Bold prints, oversize belts, statement accessories. Something that expresses your imagination."

THE FASHION DISASTER: "I bought a beautiful but deteriorating 1920s dress to wear to an important dinner at the Waverly Inn [in Manhattan]. When I stood up, the back completely fell apart; a busboy helped staple the dress together so I wasn't mooning everyone. Like you would an original painting, inspect vintage carefully before purchasing."

DRESS FOR SUCCESS: "I have hundreds of dresses and tons of shoes, and every day I look forward to putting together my outfit. I play around with different colors and textures just like a painter does. If you have fun getting dressed, it will show in your outfit."

FINISH THE LOOK: "I wear a lot of jewelry—like, four to six rings at a time. And I love a retro feel, so I work that in with bags and shoes."

On Saskia Miller, left: Dress, $436, Mint Jodi Arnold; shoes, $430, DKNY; rings, $785 each, Stephen Dweck. On Giada Torri, right: Cardigan, $79, Club Monaco; tank, $145, skirt, $825, D&G; shoes, $745, Marni; necklace, $1600, Subversive Jewelry by Justin Giunta; Torri's own rings.

THE JOB: FINANCIER

"Wall Street may be 95 percent men, but don't dress like one. But don't dress like a girly-girl either."

Promotion vs. Demotion

DOS:

Tailored shirts with stretch—fitted looks more feminine

Express your personality through shoes—an element of style you can have fun with

Have your tailor put a hook-and-eye inside the bust of your button-down to keep your bra hidden

DON'TS:

Linen—no matter how gorgeous or expensive, by the end of the day, it's a wrinkled mess

Camisoles, spandex, and cropped tops. These are for weekends only

Wearing bright colors—you'll stand out at the Stock Exchange, and not in a good way

FUTURE MOGUL: Lucia Knight, 27, bond sales assistant on the trading floor

EXPERT: Becky Quick, co-anchor of CNBC's Squawk Box and former financial reporter for The Wall Street Journal

FORMALITY FACTOR: (10/10) "Nothing less than impeccable is what flies on Wall Street. If your lipstick's a mess or your skirt is too trendy, it instantly devalues you. Wall Street may be 95 percent men, but don't dress like one—but don't dress like a girly-girl either."

THE GOAL: "Like their male colleagues, women need great-looking go-to suits and several pairs of killer classic shoes."

THE MUST-HAVES: "Three good suits—black, gray, and brown—off the rack that a tailor can make into great suits. Pay special attention to fit, fabric, and sleeve-cuff length: When your arm is straight down, the cuff should stop between your wrist bone and the top of your hand. And a quality watch—nothing too flashy."

THE FASHION DISASTER: "Overnight, I went from being a financial reporter for The Wall Street Journal who wore jeans to being on-camera. I only owned one suit, and I had to safety-pin the pants. Then I bought 10 cheap, garishly colored suits that hung all wrong. I looked at least 20 pounds heavier on the air."

DRESS FOR SUCCESS: "Get measured by a tailor, and then seek out designers who cut for your body—Tahari works well for petite frames like mine. Since your work wardrobe doesn't have to be this season, scour the outlets."

FINISH THE LOOK: "Keep makeup simple and natural. I usually just wear a watch, an elegant necklace, and pearl studs—no big statement pieces. You want people to notice you, not your jewelry."

On Becky Quick, left: Jacket, $2670, skirt, $940, Dior; shoes, $995, Burberry. On Lucia Knight, right: Jacket, $536, BCBG MaxAzria; top, $510, Bottega Veneta; skirt, $350, shoes, $310, Tory Burch.

You may not know your Lucian from your Sigmund, but you can still hold your own at the art museum with this conversation guide.

Portrait, Landscape or Still Life?

Are you looking at a person (portrait), place (landscape), or thing (still life)? Get off to a good start by using the correct term instead of calling the piece, "a picture."

Form and Line

Shading and texture give an object form, and generally make a piece look realistic. Talking about line is another way to discuss the shaping of the objects in the piece. Are facial features well defined and detailed (if you're discussing a portrait), or more subtle? Form and line also give an object movement or a sense of being static. Use your intuition. It's unlikely that a bowl of fruit will have much movement.

Negative Space

When you've said everything you can say about what's in the painting or sketch, talk about what's not there — the negative space in the piece.

Natural or Surreal?

Take a look at the composition of the piece — aka where the people and objects (the "content") are placed. If they're shaped or interacting with each other in an unrealistic way, you can safely categorize it as being surreal.

Realism, Impressionism, Expressionism, or Abstract Expressionism?

Is the artist attempting to make the content of the work look real, like a photograph? If so, mention the artist's attention to detail or technique in creating a realistic image. Lucian Freud's nude paintings are a good example of realism.

Impressionistic pieces will have visible brush strokes, movement, and an emphasis on light in the composition. Take a look at the paintings of Monet and Renoir, and you'll be able to recognize an impressionistic piece instantly.

If the artist has created the image using blurry brush strokes or has created a composition, like a bowl of fruit, entirely out of geometric shapes, it's safe to ooh and aah over the artist's interpretation of reality and label the technique as expressionistic. Look to Munch ("The Scream") to see what expressionism is all about.

If you're discussing a piece and secretly thinking "I could have painted this when I was 5," you're looking at Abstract Expressionism. Jackson Pollock's pieces and your 4-year-old nephew's doodles are good examples of Abstract Expressionism.

From cubism to minimalism, there are dozens more specific art movements, with many artists fitting into more than just one category, so don't sweat it if someone starts throwing around terms you've never heard before.

Get Real

Once you're all out of Art History 101 vocabulary, just give your honest opinion. Whether you love it, hate it, or just don't see what the big deal is, the most important thing is that you're thinking about it and that it makes you feel something, even if it's disdain. Trust us, your art museum companions probably don't know much more than you do. 'Fess up to your limited knowledge and they'll likely breathe a sigh of relief that they're not the only ones faking thoughtful nodding while mentally writing up their grocery list.