Gary Vikan: Exhibiting Sacred Art

Gary was director of the Walters Art Museum from 1994 to 2013; from 1985 to 1994 he was the museum’s chief curator. Before moving to Baltimore, Gary was senior associate at Harvard’s Center for Byzantine Studies at Dumbarton Oaks. A native of Minnesota, he received his BA from Carleton College and his PhD from Princeton University. He serves on the Advisory Council on Culture and the Arts of the Salzburg Global Seminar. He has been an advisor to the Getty Leadership Institute, Princeton University’s Department of Art and Archaeology, and the Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics at Johns Hopkins University.​

In this episode, Gary and I discussed how to preserve the spiritual impact of Orthodox icons in a museum setting. We talked about the challenges of conveying the unique power of sacred art to a diverse audience while respecting its spiritual intent. Additionally, we discuss the intersections of art, culture, and religion in the context of pilgrimage.