PHOENIX (March 3, 2026) – In collaboration with Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix College presents the 2026 Eric Fischl Lecture Series, featuring Eric Fischl in conversation with contemporary artist Marilyn Minter on Wednesday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Avenue. Marilyn Minter makes work that resonates and repels, using glossy surfaces and hyper-detailed imagery to explore beauty, desire, and the politics of looking. Join us for a public lecture followed by a conversation as the two artists discuss Minter’s studio practice, her evolution, and the boundaries of contemporary art.
About Marilyn Minter
An American contemporary artist based in New York City whose practice spans painting, photography, and video, Minter’s work centers on an ongoing investigation of beauty, desire, and visual culture. Drawing from fashion imagery, advertising, and art history, she creates vivid, hyper-detailed compositions that make familiar surfaces - skin, cosmetics, water, and shine - feel immediate and charged.
Her images often balance attraction and tension, engaging viewers while also prompting reflection on how glamour operates culturally. By pushing close, immersive views of the body into the realm of fine art, Minter challenges conventional ideas of perfection and asks how images shape identity and expectations.
Minter’s work has been exhibited at major institutions including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. A major retrospective, Pretty/Dirty, traveled nationally and further established her influence in contemporary art.
The Event
Phoenix College “Best in Show” selections from the annual Student Art Exhibition will be on display at Phoenix Art Museum during the reception from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. followed by presentation of the Vanguard Awards.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 / Eric Fischl Lecture Series
Phoenix Art Museum | 1625 N. Central Avenue | Phoenix | AZ | 85004
• 5:00 p.m. | Student Art Exhibition & Reception
• 5:45 p.m. | Vanguard Award Presentation
• 6:30 p.m. | Eric Fischl & Marilyn Minter
Tickets for the Eric Fischl Lecture Series are required and available via Phoenix Art Museum.
About the Series
In 2005, Eric Fischl, the contemporary painter, sculptor, and author, returned to Phoenix College to give back to his alma mater and support aspiring artists. Fischl honors the college’s influence on his life each year by bringing world-renowned artists and art enthusiasts together for the annual Eric Fischl Lecture Series.
The program includes a student art exhibition and reception, the Vanguard Awards presentation recognizing outstanding Phoenix College student artists, and a lecture and conversation between Fischl and the featured guest artist. Together, these components connect emerging artists with established voices in contemporary art and reinforce the college’s commitment to creative excellence.
About the Vanguard Awards
A hallmark of the Eric Fischl Lecture Series, the prestigious Vanguard Awards were created by Eric Fischl in 2005 to recognize emerging student talent in the fine arts, make Phoenix College a center for the arts in downtown Phoenix, and create life-changing opportunities for students. The Vanguard Award is a $2,500 Best in Show Award, selected by Fischl and the guest artist from among the work submitted for the Annual Student Art Exhibit. To date, 69 students have received a total of 78 Vanguard Awards.
About Phoenix College
Founded in 1920, Phoenix College is the flagship institution of the Maricopa County Community College District, one of the largest community college systems in the nation. Serving more than 17,000 students each year, the college offers over 200 degree and certificate programs, including associate degrees, university transfer pathways, workforce training, and select bachelor’s degrees aligned with Arizona’s evolving workforce needs. Committed to access, academic excellence, and student success, Phoenix College helps students build skills, advance their careers, and create better futures for themselves and their families.
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Media Contact: Christy Flora, Manager of Public Relations and Marketing, [email protected] / 602-920-8458 /phoenixcollege.edu