Gallery Conversation: Life and Death Lessons from Ancient Egypt (Jul 20)

The ancient Egyptians were no more obsessed with death than we are today; like us, they grappled with what it means to live fully, even as they knew that life is finite. Results of their reflections can be found in the objects they left behind. Join us for this gallery conversation exploring ancient Egyptian objects on view and the stories behind them with the aim of shedding light on our own experiences with life and death. How do we live boldly in the shadow of death, and what, if anything, lies beyond? 

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

Ashley Arico serves as the museum’s associate curator of ancient Egyptian art in our Arts of Africa department. In 2022 she curated the new arts of ancient Egypt gallery Life and Afterlife in Ancient Egypt. She is also co-author and editor of the open-access collection catalogue Ancient Egyptian Art at the Art Institute of Chicago (2025). Ashley holds a PhD from Johns Hopkins University and previously held positions at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum; and the Walters Art Museum, where she contributed to the exhibition Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum (2013). A frequent traveler to Egypt, she also participated in archaeological excavations at the temple of the lion-headed goddess Mut in Luxor.

Sam Ramos is the director of Gallery Activation at the Art Institute of Chicago. He teaches across the galleries on a variety of topics including nature, history, healthcare, justice, race, colonialism, and, of course, art. He is a practicing writer who has published fiction, art criticism, and essays in a number of places, though his first loves are short stories and novels. His novel, Ghost Box, was longlisted for the 2023 Dzanc Fiction Prize. He holds a BFA in art history and studio art as well as an MFA in creative writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

What to Expect

This event will take place in Gallery 50, on the lower level of the museum, and is accessible via stairs and elevator. Folding stools will be provided for seating. The speaker will focus on a number of artworks on view in the galleries, and the program will last approximately one hour.

ASL interpretation and/or assisted listening devices are available upon request at [email protected]. These devices are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests must be made at least two weeks in advance.