Local artist Silvia López Chavez will present a series of workshops at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum this summer, drawing inspiration from the exhibition’s Life, Death & Revelry themes. Beginning June 30, Chavez’s Saturday Open Studio series will feature hands-on activities designed to deepen visitor engagement with the show. In addition to the weekly Saturday sessions, she will lead studio workshops as the visiting artist on June 30 and during Third Thursdays programming on June 21.
“The workshops are inspired by the Life, Death & Revelry exhibition,” says Chavez. “My hope is to allow visitors to experiment with the art materials and techniques I use in my own studio practice while having fun with color and creating personal meaning around the idea of Life Cycles.”
A Chelsea-based interdisciplinary artist with Dominican Republic roots, Chavez approaches creative work as a vehicle for meaningful social impact. Throughout her career, she has contributed to numerous collaborative projects and public art installations across Boston and the surrounding region, with works visible at locations including Uphams’ Corner, the Charles River Esplanade, Punto Urban Art Museum in Salem, and Northeastern University. Her exhibition history encompasses venues such as the Fitchburg Art Museum, Boston Children’s Museum, and the New Hampshire Institute of Art, and she currently serves as an artist-in-residence at Boston Children’s Hospital.
An accomplished graphic designer with over 15 years of professional experience working with major corporations and institutions, Chavez holds a BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She maintains an active studio practice at the Boston Center for the Arts.
The Polly Thayer Starr Artist Series enables the Gardner Museum to collaborate with four Boston-area artists, offering them a structured three-month period to develop workshops and artistic experiences for visitors. This initiative encourages artists to engage with the Museum’s distinctive cultural environment and the legacy of founder Isabella Stewart Gardner through exploration and creative implementation.
As part of the series, participating artists design and lead Saturday Open Studios and facilitate hands-on activities throughout the Museum. Chavez’s workshop programming grew out of her collaborative work with the institution during April, May, and June.
The workshop series runs every Saturday from June 30 through September 1, with hours from 11 am to 4 pm. Museum admission includes access to Open Studio events.