Art of Science: What Color were Ancient Statues?
@ Parlour & Ramp Gallery
2130 W 21st St, Chicago, IL 60608
Opening Thursday, September 17th, from 7PM - 10PM
PRESENTATION BEGINS AT 8 PM.
In this science outreach series, scientists present different scientific topics to the general public in a laid-back atmosphere in an art gallery.
Please mark your calendar for the upcoming fall 2026 events:
10/22/26 – Geology
11/19/26 – Molecular engineering
12/10/26 – Cell biology
More information will be given closer to each event.
The September 2026 event:
What Color were Ancient Statues?
Presented by Dr. Tasha Vorderstrasse
University of Chicago
Presentation abstract and presenter bio are below.
PRESENTATION BEGINS AT 8 PM.
Exciting science, art and socializing.
Donation bar.
Vegan snacks.
Events are always free and open to all, so feel free to invite others.
Hope to see you there!
Parlour & Ramp Gallery is at 2130 W. 21st St.
Easily accessible by the pink line (Damen stop) and the Damen Ave. (#50) bus. Some street parking available.
https://parlourandramp.com/
Facebook event page,
https://www.facebook.com/events/1650116786721115.
You are invited to join the Art of Science Facebook group,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/308458645920283/.
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What Color were Ancient Statues?
When we see ancient statues, they are often devoid of any visible color. Nevertheless, scientific advances have allowed us to better understand that in fact many of these statues were brightly colored, gilded with gold, and appear far different to their modern appearance.
In this presentation, we will look at why people used to see statues in monochrome and how we can now start to reconstruct the way they actually looked when they were made.
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Tasha Vorderstrasse
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Tasha Vorderstrasse is the Manager, Continuing Education Program at the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures at the University of Chicago.
She received her PhD in Near Eastern archaeology from the University of Chicago in 2004. Her work focuses on understanding the identity of past communities through archaeological and textual evidence as well as the interconnections between different regions. She administers and teaches in the ISAC adult education program, and also does teacher workshops and tours of the ISAC Museum for UChicago students and other groups on a variety of topics from post-colonialism and the ISAC to legal history, medicine, and queens and princesses in the ancient world.
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Image credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art 40.156, Fletcher Fund, 1940
Official Website
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Tags: Art of Science: What Color were Ancient Statues?, Chicago, Lower West Side, Parlour & Ramp Gallery, Tasha Vorderstrasse
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