Across centuries, artists have turned to the Hebrew Bible for inspiration—creating some of the most iconic, dramatic, and spiritually charged images in Western art. In this course, we will explore how painters, sculptors, and illustrators have reimagined biblical figures, turning stories of faith, courage, struggle, and redemption into visual masterpieces.

From Eve and the timeless symbolism of temptation, to Isaac bound in the moment of sacrifice, to the many faces of Moses—including Michelangelo’s monumental vision—we will see how artists capture both human vulnerability and divine presence. We will trace the evolution of David as hero, king, and emblem of Renaissance ideals, and examine the powerful portrayals of Esther, whose courage has inspired generations of artists.

Together, we will uncover how art shapes—and is shaped by—the biblical imagination, and how these ancient stories continue to speak through brushstroke, marble, and canvas.

Led by Dr. Batia Cohen, this program traces Pollock’s revolutionary role in shaping Abstract Expressionism. Known for his dynamic “drip paintings,” Pollock broke with tradition to create art that emphasized process, movement, and raw emotion. Participants will gain insight into how his methods redefined painting itself and placed American art on the global stage. 

This program is part of the Maverick American Artists Series with Dr. Batia Cohen. Although the art scene in the United States did not develop fully until the end of WWII, artists from America, like Mary Cassatt, James McNeill Whistler, and Edward Hopper, traveled abroad to get acquainted with avant-garde artistic movements. During and after WWII, the influx of immigrants changed the way art was created in America, bringing fresh ideas from other countries. Artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, and Rothko created their own view. Batia Cohen, Ph.D. 

Across centuries, artists have turned to the Hebrew Bible for inspiration—creating some of the most iconic, dramatic, and spiritually charged images in Western art. In this course, we will explore how painters, sculptors, and illustrators have reimagined biblical figures, turning stories of faith, courage, struggle, and redemption into visual masterpieces.

From Eve and the timeless symbolism of temptation, to Isaac bound in the moment of sacrifice, to the many faces of Moses—including Michelangelo’s monumental vision—we will see how artists capture both human vulnerability and divine presence. We will trace the evolution of David as hero, king, and emblem of Renaissance ideals, and examine the powerful portrayals of Esther, whose courage has inspired generations of artists.

Together, we will uncover how art shapes—and is shaped by—the biblical imagination, and how these ancient stories continue to speak through brushstroke, marble, and canvas.

East Meets West

Course dates: Mar 10, 2026 to Apr 14, 2026

In the mid-19th century, Europe began trading with Asia. Imported goods began to arrive at major cities, and artists were interested in applying the Far East concepts of Art. As the communications progressed, several Asian artists were also influenced by Western Art. In the 20th century, Japanese American artists like Isamu Noguchi blended both notions and a new era of art began. The interaction between cultures has always enriched our understanding of each other, and art has been a vehicle to do so. 

Week 1: First Interactions between East and West

Week 2: La Belle Epoque and the Far East

Week 3: The Wave of Hokusai, Van Gogh and others

Week 4: Isamu Noguchi: A Japanese American struggle

Week 5: Yayoi Kusama: More than dots

Week 6: Ai Wei Wei: The New Era of Art

Led by Dr. Batia Cohen, this program explores Rothko’s luminous canvases, where blocks of color evoke profound emotional and spiritual experiences. Rather than focusing on subject matter, Rothko sought to communicate universal human feelings through the language of abstraction. Participants will discover how his work invites quiet reflection and continues to move viewers worldwide. 

This program is part of the Maverick American Artists Series with Dr. Batia Cohen. Although the art scene in the United States did not develop fully until the end of WWII, artists from America, like Mary Cassatt, James McNeill Whistler, and Edward Hopper, traveled abroad to get acquainted with avant-garde artistic movements. During and after WWII, the influx of immigrants changed the way art was created in America, bringing fresh ideas from other countries. Artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, and Rothko created their own view. 

Rendering Testimony into Narrative
An Author's Talk on her Historical Novel of a Holocaust Survivor

The Stirling Library Friends Group invites you to join Dr. Batia Cohen for a conversation about Shura, a historical novel that chronicles the life of Holocaust survivor Szifra (Shura) Pupko.

A secret discovered in adolescence sets the story in motion and shapes the course of her life. During World War II, she leaps from a train bound for Majdanek and finds refuge with the Bielski partisans. After the war she rebuilds her life in Mexico, carrying the memories and relationships that define a life survived.

Batia will discuss her research and interviews with survivors. A short reading will be followed by audience Q&A. Batia will be available to sign copies of her book after the reading.

We know and love Batia from her art appreciation lectures. And now she has written a novel based on her husband's grandmother's experiences. We hope you will join us for this very special event.

East Meets West

Course dates: Mar 10, 2026 to Apr 14, 2026

In the mid-19th century, Europe began trading with Asia. Imported goods began to arrive at major cities, and artists were interested in applying the Far East concepts of Art. As the communications progressed, several Asian artists were also influenced by Western Art. In the 20th century, Japanese American artists like Isamu Noguchi blended both notions and a new era of art began. The interaction between cultures has always enriched our understanding of each other, and art has been a vehicle to do so. 

Week 1: First Interactions between East and West

Week 2: La Belle Epoque and the Far East

Week 3: The Wave of Hokusai, Van Gogh and others

Week 4: Isamu Noguchi: A Japanese American struggle

Week 5: Yayoi Kusama: More than dots

Week 6: Ai Wei Wei: The New Era of Art

East Meets West

Course dates: Mar 10, 2026 to Apr 14, 2026

In the mid-19th century, Europe began trading with Asia. Imported goods began to arrive at major cities, and artists were interested in applying the Far East concepts of Art. As the communications progressed, several Asian artists were also influenced by Western Art. In the 20th century, Japanese American artists like Isamu Noguchi blended both notions and a new era of art began. The interaction between cultures has always enriched our understanding of each other, and art has been a vehicle to do so. 

Week 1: First Interactions between East and West

Week 2: La Belle Epoque and the Far East

Week 3: The Wave of Hokusai, Van Gogh and others

Week 4: Isamu Noguchi: A Japanese American struggle

Week 5: Yayoi Kusama: More than dots

Week 6: Ai Wei Wei: The New Era of Art

Please join us as Dr. Batia Cohen takes us behind the scenes of writing Shura. In this special presentation, Dr. Cohen will share the personal, emotional journey of uncovering and documenting the true story of a woman who leaped from a moving train destined for a Nazi death camp. Hear firsthand the anecdotes and research events that brought this story of defiance to life.

East Meets West

Course dates: Mar 10, 2026 to Apr 14, 2026

In the mid-19th century, Europe began trading with Asia. Imported goods began to arrive at major cities, and artists were interested in applying the Far East concepts of Art. As the communications progressed, several Asian artists were also influenced by Western Art. In the 20th century, Japanese American artists like Isamu Noguchi blended both notions and a new era of art began. The interaction between cultures has always enriched our understanding of each other, and art has been a vehicle to do so. 

Week 1: First Interactions between East and West

Week 2: La Belle Epoque and the Far East

Week 3: The Wave of Hokusai, Van Gogh and others

Week 4: Isamu Noguchi: A Japanese American struggle

Week 5: Yayoi Kusama: More than dots

Week 6: Ai Wei Wei: The New Era of Art

East Meets West

Course dates: Mar 10, 2026 to Apr 14, 2026

In the mid-19th century, Europe began trading with Asia. Imported goods began to arrive at major cities, and artists were interested in applying the Far East concepts of Art. As the communications progressed, several Asian artists were also influenced by Western Art. In the 20th century, Japanese American artists like Isamu Noguchi blended both notions and a new era of art began. The interaction between cultures has always enriched our understanding of each other, and art has been a vehicle to do so. 

Week 1: First Interactions between East and West

Week 2: La Belle Epoque and the Far East

Week 3: The Wave of Hokusai, Van Gogh and others

Week 4: Isamu Noguchi: A Japanese American struggle

Week 5: Yayoi Kusama: More than dots

Week 6: Ai Wei Wei: The New Era of Art

East Meets West

Course dates: Mar 10, 2026 to Apr 14, 2026

In the mid-19th century, Europe began trading with Asia. Imported goods began to arrive at major cities, and artists were interested in applying the Far East concepts of Art. As the communications progressed, several Asian artists were also influenced by Western Art. In the 20th century, Japanese American artists like Isamu Noguchi blended both notions and a new era of art began. The interaction between cultures has always enriched our understanding of each other, and art has been a vehicle to do so. 

Week 1: First Interactions between East and West

Week 2: La Belle Epoque and the Far East

Week 3: The Wave of Hokusai, Van Gogh and others

Week 4: Isamu Noguchi: A Japanese American struggle

Week 5: Yayoi Kusama: More than dots

Week 6: Ai Wei Wei: The New Era of Art

Led by Dr. Batia Cohen, this program examines the life and work of Artemisia Gentileschi, one of the most powerful painters of the Baroque era. Against all odds, Gentileschi forged a celebrated career, bringing an intensity and emotional depth to her dramatic biblical and mythological subjects. Participants will explore how her paintings challenged conventions and gave women new visibility in art.

This program is part of the series Women in Art with Dr. Batia Cohen.
 For centuries, women have been relegated to a footnote or a simple phrase in the history of art. Usually, their art is valued at a lesser price than their male contemporaries. It is time to give them their rightful place and importance! Artemisia Gentileschi and the Baroque, Gabriele Münter and the Theory of Color, Helen Frankenthaler and the abstract expression, Marisol and Pop Art in New York, and Yayoi Kusama and her therapeutic art.

Art historian Dr. Batia Cohen examines how James McNeill Whistler—one of America’s most refined and innovative painters—translated musical principles into visual art. Deeply influenced by music and color theory, Whistler sought to create balance, rhythm, and emotional resonance through carefully orchestrated tones and hues. His evocative titles such as Symphony and Harmony reflect a painter’s ear for composition, revealing how he transformed the canvas into a lyrical expression of sound and color.

Led by Dr. Batia Cohen, this program focuses on Mary Cassatt, the American artist who became a central figure in the French Impressionist movement. Known for her tender portrayals of mothers and children, Cassatt defied societal expectations and carved her own path in a male-dominated art world. Participants will discover how her work blended intimacy with innovation. 

This program is part of the series Women in Art with Dr. Batia Cohen.  For centuries, women have been relegated to a footnote or a simple phrase in the history of art. Usually, their art is valued at a lesser price than their male contemporaries. It is time to give them their rightful place and importance! Artemisia Gentileschi and the Baroque, Gabriele Münter and the Theory of Color, Helen Frankenthaler and the abstract expression, Marisol and Pop Art in New York, and Yayoi Kusama and her therapeutic art.  

Led by Dr. Batia Cohen, this program highlights Gabriele Münter’s contributions to modern art and her pivotal role in the Blue Rider group. Often overshadowed by her partner, Wassily Kandinsky, Münter developed a bold style rooted in color theory and expression. Participants will see how her work shaped early abstraction and deserves equal recognition alongside Kandinsky’s. 

This program is part of the series Women in Art with Dr. Batia Cohen. For centuries, women have been relegated to a footnote or a simple phrase in the history of art. Usually, their art is valued at a lesser price than their male contemporaries. It is time to give them their rightful place and importance! Artemisia Gentileschi and the Baroque, Gabriele Münter and the Theory of Color, Helen Frankenthaler and the abstract expression, Marisol and Pop Art in New York, and Yayoi Kusama and her therapeutic art.

Led by Dr. Batia Cohen, this program explores the groundbreaking achievements of Helen Frankenthaler, a central figure in postwar American art. Her innovative “soak-stain” technique transformed abstract painting and influenced generations of artists. Participants will uncover how Frankenthaler‟s lyrical canvases expanded the possibilities of Abstract Expressionism.

This program is part of the series Women in Art with Dr. Batia Cohen. For centuries, women have been relegated to a footnote or a simple phrase in the history of art. Usually, their art is valued at a lesser price than their male contemporaries. It is time to give them their rightful place and importance! Artemisia Gentileschi and the Baroque, Gabriele Münter and the Theory of Color, Helen Frankenthaler and the abstract expression, Marisol and Pop Art in New York, and Yayoi Kusama and her therapeutic art.

Led by Dr. Batia Cohen, this program introduces Marisol, the Venezuelan-born sculptor who became a distinctive voice within the Pop Art movement. With her witty, satirical, and often poignant sculptural assemblages, Marisol examined themes of identity, consumerism, and femininity. Participants will learn how she stood out among her male contemporaries and redefined Pop Art on her own terms.

This program is part of the series Women in Art with Dr. Batia Cohen. For centuries, women have been relegated to a footnote or a simple phrase in the history of art. Usually, their art is valued at a lesser price than their male contemporaries. It is time to give them their rightful place and importance! Artemisia Gentileschi and the Baroque, Gabriele Münter and the Theory of Color, Helen Frankenthaler and the abstract expression, Marisol and Pop Art in New York, an

Led by Dr. Batia Cohen, this program delves into the mesmerizing world of Yayoi Kusama, whose dots, nets, and immersive installations explore obsession, healing, and infinity. From early paintings to her famous Infinity Mirror Rooms, Kusama has turned personal struggles into universal artistic language. Participants will experience how her art creates both therapy and wonder.

This program is part of the Women in Art Series with Dr. Batia Cohen. For centuries, women have been relegated to a footnote or a simple phrase in the history of art. Usually, their art is valued at a lesser price than their male contemporaries. It is time to give them their rightful place and importance! Artemisia Gentileschi and the Baroque, Gabriele Münter and the Theory of Color, Helen Frankenthaler and the abstract expression, Marisol and Pop Art in New York, and Yayoi Kusama and her therapeutic art.