PHOENIX, ARIZ.- Phoenix Art Museum is now unveiling the exhibition 'Expanding Darshan: Manjari Sharma, To See and Be Seen', which will be on view until April 14th, 2024. Organized by the Birmingham Museum of Art, Expanding Darshan: Manjari Sharma, To See and Be Seen showcases the remarkable work of global contemporary artist Manjari Sharma, who has photographically re- imagined encounters with Hindu deities in temple settings with custom fabrication. These portraits, which address issues of identity, multiculturalism, and personal mythology, are paired alongside historical sculptural objects from the collection of the Birmingham Museum of Art, many of which are on view publicly for the first time. By presenting these works together, the exhibition creates a dialogue about the longstanding, inextricable relationship between art and religion.

Sharma's portraits were custom fabricated by craftspeople, costume designers, and other creatives from across the world to bring to life scenes of nine Hindu deities from temple settings. They are shown in conversation with historical sculptural objects from the Birmingham collection, many of which are on view for the first time.

Expanding Darshan: Manjari Sharma, To See and Be Seen is organized by Birmingham Museum of Art. The exhibition’s presentation at Phoenix Art Museum is coordinated by Janet Baker, PhD, Curator Emerita of Asian Art, and Rachel Sadvary Zebro, associate curator for collections, at Phoenix Art Museum, in collaboration with Katherine Anne Paul, PhD, the Virginia and William M. Spencer III Curator of Asian Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Expanding Darshan: Manjari Sharma, To See and Be Seen is made possible through the generosity of Men’s Arts Council, with additional support from E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation and Vermaland, LLC. All exhibitions at Phoenix Art Museum are underwritten by the Phoenix Art Museum Exhibition Excellence Fund, founded by The Opatrny Family Foundation with additional major support provided by Joan Cremin.

Art Talk: Manjari Sharma: December 16 | 1 pm

Hear from contemporary artist Manjari Sharma in conversation with Katherine Anne Paul, PhD, the Virginia and William M. Spencer III Curator of Asian Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art and Janet Baker, PhD, Curator Emerita of Asian Art at Phoenix Art Museum, as they discuss the works and themes in special-engagement exhibition Expanding Darshan: Manjari Sharma, To See and Be Seen, opening on December 16, 2023 in the Katz Wing for Modern Art.

Phoenix Art Museum
'Expanding Darshan: Manjari Sharma, To See and Be Seen'
December 16th, 2024 - April 14th, 2024