Alison Saar delivered the 36th installment of the Fingerman Lecture series at the Des Moines Art Center on October 4, 2026. Saar’s work examines the place of the female body in the realms of politics and spirituality. She explores Black female identity, and the powerful, multifaceted roles women play — from everyday life to timeless, legendary figures.
Saar has exhibited artworks at many galleries and museums throughout the United States. Her art is represented in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Baltimore Art Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her 1997 piece, “Sweeping Beauty” was added to the Des Moines Art Center’s permanent collection in 2003.
The Fingerman Lecture series is made possible through generous gifts by Lois and the late Dr. Louis Fingerman.
