Taking advantage of our rotating exhibits, FWMoA staff from all departments are engaging with artwork they can’t stop thinking about. With galleries full of glass, paintings, bronzes, and more, we’ve posed the challenging question, “What’s your favorite artwork currently on display?”
Zoe Niverson, our 2025 Education Department Intern, is Playing Favorites! While completing her Bachelor’s degree at Purdue Fort Wayne, Zoe has joined the education department in many tasks, including creating Children’s Education programs and installing our annual Scholastic Art and Writing exhibit. Read about her current favorite artwork in the Glass Wing made by Lucio Bubacco, Perseus and Medusa.
Q: What is the first thing you noticed about this artwork? What drew you to this particular piece?
A: I noticed that it was drinking cup — a very hard to use drinking cup. I was drawn to how intricate Bubacco made the drinking glass, with two human figures, two fish, and lots of golden foliage sculpted on with glass as well a gold leaf on the base and rim of the glass. The main blue color also caught my eye immediately, as it’s such a rich color and it makes me wonder how he colors his glass. I was previously an art history major with a focus in Ancient Greek art. I personally connect with this piece for its classical theme and representing Greek mythos characters in a contemporary way.
Q: Would you display this artwork in your home? Why or why not?
A: I would keep this in my home, maybe not as a drinking glass but as a center piece on my table. I think it’s just so beautifully sculpted and I can only imagine what it would look like in natural light, how it would sparkle. I would like to see this piece on its own to really let it have its own moment.
Q: What does this artwork mean to you?
A: To me this piece is trying to reinvent classical concepts and figures in a contemporary setting and medium. I’ve looked at more than enough ancient Greek kylikes, which usually have figural or decorative patterns painted on them. The most famous kylikes had mythological figures, like gods or important mortals. I see Bubacco taking the classical concept of a drinking vessel and decorating it with mythological figures, but this time shaped in a way for modern audiences to recognize as a wine glass. Kylikes are traditionally terracotta, while Bubacco is using a contemporary material of glass to make the figures, animals, and foliage in 3D while they would be 2D on a traditional kylix.
Q: Why did you choose to work in an art museum?
A: I absolutely love art, I love to look at, learn about, and even make art. I’ve always had a connection to art since high school and it was further exacerbated when I went to college and started taking art classes and art history classes. But my interest in working in an art museum started when I was in high school. I actually came here to the FWMOA, and as we were going through the galleries I asked my dad how they decided what to put on display. We looked it up and found out that museums have curatorial teams who put together exhibits. It was right in that moment I said to myself, “I want to do that”. I want to work in museums once I graduate college, and having this internship is helping me decide what department I want to work in and getting my foot in the door.
Q: What kind of art (if any) do you have in your home?
A: I have a ton of my own artwork, mostly paintings since that’s the medium I like to work in. I also like to go to art markets and vendors to get art. Three Rivers art in the park is my favorite where I get a lot of interesting sculptures, paintings, and textiles.
Q: What has been your favorite exhibition at FWMoA during your employment?
A: I really love our Scholastics exhibit going on right now (through April 6th), it’s so amazing to see all the talented students’ artworks and writings. It also helps that I was one of the people who helped set it up, so there is a little bit of pride there. I want people to see all the amazing artworks and writings the young people of Northern Indiana and Northwest Ohio can do.
Visit FWMOA’s Glass Wing to see Zoe’s favorite piece!