Last Chance: Kohler’s exhibit “Remembering The Society of American Fakirs, 1891-1914” ends February 18!

Don’t miss the opportunity to get over to Kohler Art Library for the “Remembering The Society of American Fakirs, 1891-1914” exhibit! It ends on February 18. In this era of fake news, deepfakes, and the blurring of truth and fiction, it may come as a surprise to learn about a time when art caricatures or “fakes” were popular and formed an integral part of American art school education.  From 1891-1914, students attending the Art Students League in New York held annual exhibitions of “fake” art that parodied the work done by their instructors and other important artists.  These creative students called themselves The Society of American Fakirs.  Both male and female students participated in the Fakir exhibitions, including Wisconsin native Georgia O’Keeffe, who attended the Art Students League from 1907-08.  Most of artists whose works were spoofed were members of the Society of American Artists or the National Academy of Design, for example William Merritt Chase, John Singer Sargent, Irving Wiles, and Cecilia Beaux, among many others.

For more on the exhibit, visit Kohler’s page!