Aliza Nisenbaum, the 2024-25 Toni and Tim Urban International Artist-in-Residence, is known for her vibrantly colored, large-scale portraits. She describes her paintings as a “montage of points in time.” In the fall of 2024, the Des Moines Art Center invited Nisenbaum to meet with pivotal members of the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) committee, learn about the event’s history, and photograph the celebration. Inspired by her visits, Nisenbaum created five paintings for “Aliza Nisenbaum: Día de los Muertos” to commemorate the 25-year history of the Día de los Muertos celebration at the museum.
