“She brought art to life in a way that I’ve never really experienced before.”
In an official capacity, I’m a docent at the National Gallery of Art. I help museum goers find personal resonance in art that can otherwise feel inaccessible.
Off duty, I’m a wanderer. Paintings are portals we can step through if we’re curious enough. We can ask questions and be led in directions that interrogate race, gender, land, and power. We can wonder: What does it feel like to have someone believe in your work when no one else does? What do we owe to our community? What does love look like on a canvas?
I offer private virtual and in-person tours personalized to your interests and audience. Whether it’s a team engagement event or the opening session of a conference, I will tailor the experience to fit the occasion. We will embark on a journey, get lost together, and see what unfolds. My starting point is your curiosity.
Example Tours
Women in Art
I’ve taken Linda Nochlin’s seminal question “Why are there no great women artists?” and introduced Graduate Women in Business at Darden Business School to the great female artists of the NGA.
Cats & Dogs
I’ve taken tour goers to meet the charismatic Cats and Dogs of the NGA, and to use cute animals as an entry into conversations about race, gender, and religion.
One Last Look
I’ve virtually traveled to the Dallas Museum of Art and explored the Slip Zone exhibition with the organizers of CreativeMornings/ Dallas.
Education and Educators
For a group of higher education administrators, we looked at contemporary works of art that examined the role of education and educators.
“Annie’s Art of Looking workshop was absolutely fantastic. It was one of those sessions where you leave in awe of the presenter’s ability to capture everyone’s attention so fully. She brought art to life in a way that I’ve never really experienced before.
Her sense of calm and controlled pacing made it feel like a meditation of sorts. But she also made the experience fun and engaging with lots of humor and audience participation. I left feeling refreshed, energized, and a bit more connected to my colleagues.
This is a great activity for any team who is looking to build connection virtually!“
EAB
Annie Yi 