MoCA CT

Carter Johnson, piano
2025-09-27 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | MoCACT, 19 Newtown Turnpike, Westport, 06880, United States
Canadian pianist and 2024 Heida Hermanns International Music Competition winner Carter Johnson brings his exceptional artistry to MoCACT in an evening of virtuosic and expressive performance. Known for his technical brilliance, nuanced interpretation, and engaging stage presence, Johnson has captivated audiences across North America and Europe. This special concert invites listeners to experience both the power and intimacy of the piano in MoCACT’s unique gallery setting.
Buy Tickets.
MoCACT Receive 10% off tickets.
General Admission $50
Senior/Student $40

Docent-Led Exhibition Tour
2025-09-27 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-09-20 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-09-13 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-09-06 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-08-30 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-08-23 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-08-16 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-08-09 13:00 - 14:30 and 3 more dates
Learn more about the current exhibition from an expert docent. No advance registration required; all tours included in Museum admission. Remember, gallery admission is FREE for MoCA Members.

Art Adventures
2025-09-27 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-09-20 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-09-13 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-09-06 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-08-30 13:00 - 14:30
Join our children’s drop-in art class at the museum, where young artists are encouraged to explore their creativity and express their unique ideas. Through fun, hands-on activities, children will build confidence, develop new art skills, and find inspiration in a supportive, nurturing environment.
Class Fee: $25
Register.

Leftovers to Lush - Creative Volunteer Workshop at MoCACT
2025-09-25 18:00 - 20:00
Thursday, September 25, 2025 6-8PM
Calling All Volunteers!
This dynamic, hands-on workshop welcomes volunteers to the MoCA Art Studio to create oversized handmade flowers (ranging from 5–22 inches) using leftover art supplies, fabric scraps, trims and recycled papers. These breathtaking blooms will then be used to decorate the runway stage for the annual Rise & Bloom Fashion Show Fundraiser. In conjunction with Family Reentry CRJ in Bridgeport, CT, this annual runway event benefits formerly incarcerated women and justice-impacted youth working hard to reenter society with dignity and purpose.
Curated and directed by fashion artist, Vernice Holmes, the Leftovers Collection celebrates second chances and sustainability—taking what the world discards and transforming it into beauty and purpose.
Together, let’s make a difference!
Please sign up to volunteer for this makers event by contacting sue@mocact.org.

Endless Summer Event
2025-09-20 18:00 - 21:00
You are invited!

Soak up the glow of summer one last time —

Join us in the beautiful MoCACT galleries for compelling art, live music,
complimentary food + beverages, inspired conversation + the joy of giving — all in support of our mission to inspire through exhibitions, performances, education + community engagement.

Saturday, September 20
6-9PM

$100 Non-Members (ticket includes a one year individual membership)
$80 Members (member gift upon arrival)

Click here to purchase tickets.

Exhibition Programming - Art talk with the Tod Papageorge + Lisa Kereszi
2025-09-18 18:00 - 19:00
Hear from the exhibiting artist of At the Beach, Tod Papageorge, in conversation with one of his former students — the organizer of this exhibition, photographer and educator, Lisa Kereszi. The two will discuss his process in making pictures, developing the concept for this exhibition, and reflect on directing the prestigious Yale MFA in Photography program for almost 35 years.

Register.

Community Conversation: Larry Silver—Seven Decades of Photography
2025-09-06 17:00 - 19:00
Saturday September 6, 2025
5–7pm
Discover seven decades of American life through the lens of acclaimed photographer Larry Silver. From his early days capturing the streets and subways of New York City to his iconic images of Muscle Beach in Santa Monica, Silver’s work is a powerful chronicle of the nation’s evolving social landscapes. His photographs reveal moments of joy, tension, and quiet introspection, with a lyrical balance that has become his signature.
Silver is best known for his 1954 series “Muscle Beach,” capturing the energy and spectacle of California’s famous beach—bodybuilders flexing, gymnasts soaring, and beachgoers basking under the sun. But his work spans far beyond, including thousands of images that document Connecticut’s landscapes, where he has lived since 1973. His Connecticut photographs reflect a deep sense of place, using natural framing, weather, and light to capture the region’s character.
Born in the Bronx in 1934, Silver discovered his passion for photography at the High School of Industrial Art, where he connected with members of the Photo League—a group of photographers who used their art to highlight social and political issues. After winning the Scholastic-Ansco Photography Awards, he earned a full scholarship to the Art Center School in Los Angeles. His journey led him from New York to California, and eventually to Connecticut, where he has continued to document everyday life.
In 2003, Silver transitioned from traditional documentary photography to experimental darkroom techniques and paper manipulation. This transition led to series like From the Medium to the Message and New Vision, where Silver explored abstract expression and Bauhaus-inspired forms. These works showcased his ability to continuously evolve his practice while maintaining a distinct visual style.
Silver’s photographs are held in over 25 major museum collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. His work has been published in numerous books and catalogs, including Made in California and Suburban Visions, ensuring his legacy as one of America’s most influential photographers.
Join us at MoCA CT to discover the stories behind the images and see how his vision continues to resonate across generations.
Learn more at: https://www.larrysilver.com/.

2025-08-28 18:00 - 20:00
In conjunction with Tod Papageorge: At the Beach + In the Pool: On Influence, we invite you for an evening of classical portrait-making with artist and photographer Lewis Derogene. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore how to channel the elegance and drama of Baroque paintings into your own portrait photography.
We’ll begin with a quick look at masterworks by painters like Vermeer and Rembrandt to better understand techniques—like chiaroscuro—that defined the era. Then, we’ll dive into how those same effects can be recreated through lighting, composition, and set design.
Bring your camera or smartphone + bring a partner too, as you’ll be photographing each other! You’ll learn how to set up lighting and backdrops, use fabric and props to build a scene, and frame portraits that feel both timeless and personal.
At the end of class, participants will upload their top shots for a group critique. Images will be displayed on a large monitor for constructive feedback and shared inspiration.
Participants are encouraged to share their final portraits on Instagram and tag @MoCA_CT.
$30 Workshop Fee; MoCA Members receive 10% off
Register Here.
About the Instructor:
Lewis Derogene, who also goes by her artistic moniker PhenomenaLewis, is an artist and photographer based in Stamford, CT. Her work has been featured in publications such as Culture Icon Zine, Populist Magazine, the April 2024 issue of Westport Lifestyle, and more. Most recently, she was a featured photographer in acclaimed Italian art critic Giorgio Bonomi’s fourth edition photography book, The Solitary Body, Il Corpo Solitario IV.
She is currently pursuing an MA in Fashion Art Direction at the Academy of Art University and holds a BFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts.
Inspired by the rich visual language of Baroque painting, Derogene creates compelling portrait and self-portrait photographs that explore and challenge sociopolitical biases within the Black community.
You can view more of her work at www.phenomenalewis.com.

Community Conversation: Art Nager, photographer Adult Photo / Storytelling
2025-08-21 18:00 - 19:00
Register.
Throughout a 50 – year career as an artist and photo educator, Arthur Nager has focused on documenting the social landscape, the people, structures and places that reflect the character of where and how we live. His goal has been to capture the details of our evolving culture to convey what is timeless and constant in our lives.
This presentation includes a survey of his black and white photographs from the 70’s made during trips across the country that capture aspects of the unique cultural landscape and the evolving photographic approach to the medium of the time.
Arthur Nager’s work incorporates chance, circumstance, and premonition with the element of irony. Relying on intuition, he enables the viewer to experience a moment in time – to look past the initial painterly impact of color, scale, and form, to extract meaning that is sometimes implied or disguised.
Nager’s work is part of educational and museum collections including The International Museum of Photography at The George Eastman House; The South Street Seaport Museum; Museum of Art, Santa Cruz and the Kennebunk Museum in Maine.
His recent exhibit in 2025 at the Mattatuck Museum featured work documenting the towns of the Naugatuck Valley from 1988 – 2024.
About Arthur Nager:
Arthur Nager earned his MFA in photography from Visual Studies Workshop and a BA in History and Psychology from the University of Rochester. Early in his career, he worked at the George Eastman House and studied under Nathan Lyons and Syl Labrot. He taught at the Center of the Eye and Anderson Ranch Arts Center before becoming Director of the Photography Program at the University of Bridgeport, where he expanded the curriculum and organized a photography lecture series featuring renowned artists such as Arnold Newman and Mary Ellen Mark.
Nager has exhibited widely, including at the Mattatuck Museum, Trinity College, the Ilon Gallery, and the FaheyBodell Umbrella Arts Gallery. His work, which captures the evolving social landscape and architectural transformations, is in the collections of institutions such as the George Eastman House and the South Street Seaport Museum. A recipient of numerous grants, including a National Endowment for the Humanities Grant, he continues to create, exhibit, and teach in Connecticut and NYC.
To learn more about Arthur Nager: https:www.arthurnager.com

Film Screening of Brief Encounters and a Q+A with Angela Strassheim
2025-07-31 19:00 - 21:00
Register.
Join MoCA CT for a screening of Ben Shapiro’s 2012 documentary, Brief Encounters, followed by a Q+A with photographer Angela Strassheim on Thursday July 31 at 7pm. Brief Encounters documents internationally acclaimed photographer Gregory Crewdson’s pursuit of his signature, surreal, and meticulously staged portraits of suburban life. Crewdson orchestrates dramatic, large – scale productions, setting houses ablaze, constructing 90 – foot sets with crews of sixty, and temporarily closing city streets, to manifest his haunting vision of American existence, reflecting his own anxieties, dreams, and inner desires. Brief Encounters offers an intimate study of one of our era’s most celebrated image – makers.
This documentary is 1 hour 18 minutes long.
About Angela Strassheim
Angela Strassheim was born in Bloomfield, IA in 1969. She currently lives in Easton, CT. She is an internationally recognized art photographer with an extensive multi – national exhibition record. She holds an MFA from Yale University, a BFA from Minneapolis College of Art & Design, as well as a Forensic Photography Certification from Metro – Dade in Miami Florida. Angela’s work has been exhibited in many galleries and museums including The Guggenheim Museum, The Whitney Museum, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, The Art Institute of Chicago, Yale University Art Gallery, The Walker Art Center, The Israel Museum in Jerusalem, Musee de l’Elysee in Lausanne in Switzerland, Museum of Modern Art (MACVAL) in Paris, and the Wellcome Trust Collection in London.
She was featured in the Whitney Biennial in 2006. Her work appears in many books including ReGeneration, 50 Photographers of Tomorrow (Thames & Hudson), and Role Models (Scala). She recently produced the cover image and story for Time Magazine’s first issue covering the Corona Virus Pandemic. Other publications include New York Times Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Exit, Wired, Art Pulse, and Mossless. She has received awards including Women in Photography LTI Lightside Grant, Bush Fellowship, McKnight Fellowship, Jerome Fellowship. Her work is included in many public and private collections including those of the Art Institute of Chicago, The Whitney Museum of Art, Yale University Art Museum, The Israel Museum, General Mills, Sir Elton John, Anthony Podesta, Andrew Hecht and Peter Norton. Currently, Angela is working on a series of portraits through a two – way mirror titled The Visitors.
She is inviting people to come sit for a moment of vulnerability and to share a deep part of themselves while listening to a short playlist that each sitter has created for themself. This past year she has exhibited in four major group shows; Suburbia: Building The American Dream at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània in Barcelona & Vienna, Le fait divers: A hypothesis in 26 letters at Museum of Modern Art (MACVAL) in Paris, and Lucid Dreams which celebrates the 100th anniversary of André Breton’s Manifesto of Surrealism (1924) at The Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

Session 301: Discovering NYC’s Art Scene (Art of Collecting Series)
2025-07-30 10:30 - 17:00
Gallery Tours: Visiting two Chelsea galleries that include emerging talent to blue-chip artists
Insights from gallery owners/curators: How galleries operate, what collectors look for, and current trends in the art market – 10:30: Paul Efstathiou, Hollis Taggart + MoCA CT Board Member + 11:45: Yancey Richardson, YRG founder + Lisa Kereszi, artist; Lunch in Chelsea to follow (details due from Wealthspire)

Limited to 12 participants.

Register here.

Community Event: Fairfield County Dance Festival
2025-07-24 18:30 - 20:00
Join East Coast Contemporary Ballet and Thomas/Ortiz Dance for a summer evening of inspiring ballet, contemporary and modern dance.
Performances are FREE and open to the public.
New England Ballet Theater & Amy Marshall Dance will be guest companies at this performance.
For more information, click here.

Sustainable Westport Presents: Plastic People Film Screening
2025-07-17 18:00 - 20:00
Did you know that every molecule of plastic ever created still exists somewhere on Earth? Plastic never goes away; it just degrades from big to small to microscopic particles… forever. These microplastic particles drift in the air, float in all bodies of water, and mix into the soil, becoming a permanent part of the environment. Microplastics are found in our human bodies, leading us to wonder about the impact of these invisible invaders on our health and if anything can be done.
Please join Sustainable Westport at MoCACT on Thursday, July 17 at 6pm for a special screening of the film Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics. This groundbreaking documentary investigates our addiction to plastic and the growing threat of microplastics on human health and the environment. This film is part of Sustainable Westport’s ongoing efforts to reduce plastic use in our community during Plastic Free July (and all year round!).

While the film is recommended for ages 13+, families are welcome to attend with children ages 4-12 who can participate in a drop-in art studio class during the screening. For tickets and more information, click here.

Cyanotypes: Making Art with Sunlight-Garden Workshop for Teens
2025-07-17 15:00 - 17:00
July 17, 3-5 PM
Enjoy a day in the sun making cyanotype impressions, and getting hands-on exposure to early photographic printing processes. Cyanotypes were invented in 1842, preceding roll film by several decades. Cyanotypes were an early way to visualize our natural world, and learn the structure of plant biology. Get into the mindset of the first photo book publisher in the history of the world—botanist Anna Atkins—by exploring this method of contact printing. During this workshop, students will understand the concept of a photographic negative, discover the history of making and printing images, and learn about the medium’s groundbreaking contribution to both science and expressive art.
Students should bring several of their own objects to class, such as shiny materials,
semi-transparent materials, crafting materials, uniquely-shaped objects, and/or organic
nontoxic plant matter such as leaves or flowers. DO NOT BRING: Precious or valuable
items exceeding $5 in case of loss, any sharp objects that may cause injury, or any
flammable or toxic material.
$30 Workshop Fee; MoCA Members receive 10% off
Register Here.
About The Instructor:
Shelli Weiler is an image-based artist from New York who uses digital and analog cameras to explore social conventions and the mechanics of display. Her work deploys the language of documentary photography to look at the production of fantasy and its failure. Her previous subjects include made-for-Instagram selfie factories, gender-segregated ultra-orthodox weddings, and behind-the-scenes footage on horror film sets.
Shelli Weiler received her MFA from Yale School of Art and BA from Wesleyan University, where she currently teaches darkroom and digital photography. She is based in Connecticut and continues to make work in New York.

Performing Arts at MoCA: Miró Quartet (Classical)
2025-07-12 19:00 - 21:00
Program:
Franz Joseph Haydn: Quartet in D major, Op. 71, No. 2
Ginastera: String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26
Ravel: String Quartet in F major
The Miró Quartet is one of America’s most celebrated string quartets, praised as “furiously committed” by The New Yorker and recognized for its “exceptional tonal focus and interpretive intensity” by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Marking 30 years together in 2025, the GRAMMY®-nominated ensemble has performed throughout the world on the most prestigious concert stages, earning accolades from critics and audiences alike. Based in Austin, TX and thriving in the area’s storied music scene, the Miró Quartet takes pride in finding new ways to communicate with audiences of all backgrounds while cultivating the longstanding tradition of chamber music.
MoCA Members receive 10% discount
General Admission: $50
Senior/Student: $40
Purchase Tickets
We sincerely thank David Thompson for his generous sponsorship of the Miró Quartet, whose support helps bring world-class chamber music to our community.
