Gallery Talk

Conservators in Action

Friday, November 7, 2025
1:00 pm–5:00 pm
Conservation Center
Included with General Admission

Inpainting of an 18th-century Peruvian painting, Nuestra Señora de Belén (Our Lady of Bethlehem), now in the final phase of treatment after two years of extensive conservation to consolidate vulnerable paint layers, repair long tears in the canvas, and secure its long-term structural stability, by Alice Limb, Andrew W. Mellon Fellow for Advanced Training. Q and A session from 2:30–3 pm and 4–4:30 pm.

Drop in to watch conservators in action as they clean, stabilize, and treat artworks for display. Visitors are invited to learn how conservators care for the MFA’s collections by viewing work in progress through the glass windows of the furniture and frame conservation lab. At select times listed below, conservators will also be available to talk to visitors, introduce projects, explain the work, and field questions.

Free with general admission. No advance registration or tickets required. Assistive listening devices available upon request.

Meet in the Conservation Center

Take the elevator outside the Bookstore and Shop in the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art to the third floor.

Assistive listening device symbol

Assistive listening system

Wheelchair accessible symbol

Wheelchair accessible

Past Dates and Times

Friday, April 10, 2026

Repair of large areas of loss and abrasion in the corduroy upholstery of a mid-century bowl chair designed by architect Lina Bo Bardi using custom dyed patches, by textile conservator Joel Stephenson.

Repair of large areas of loss and abrasion in the corduroy upholstery of a mid-century bowl chair designed by architect Lina Bo Bardi using custom dyed patches, by textile conservator Joel Stephenson.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Repair of large areas of loss and abrasion in the corduroy upholstery of a mid-century bowl chair designed by architect Lina Bo Bardi using custom dyed patches, by textile conservator Joel Stephenson.

Repair of large areas of loss and abrasion in the corduroy upholstery of a mid-century bowl chair designed by architect Lina Bo Bardi using custom dyed patches, by textile conservator Joel Stephenson.

Friday, February 20, 2026

Filling and inpainting of a reassembled Mexican ceramic jar, likely made in the 19th century in the style of traditional búcaros de Indias (highly-decorated water vessels prized for their fragrant clay bodies which subtly infused the water with a pleasing taste and aroma), by Meghan Abercrombie, Gale R. Guild and Henry R. Guild Fellow for Advanced Training. Q and A session from 3–3:30 pm.

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Filling and inpainting of a reassembled Mexican ceramic jar, likely made in the 19th century in the style of traditional búcaros de Indias (highly-decorated water vessels prized for their fragrant clay bodies which subtly infused the water with a pleasing taste and aroma), by Meghan Abercrombie, Gale R. Guild and Henry R. Guild Fellow for Advanced Training. Q and A session from 3–3:30 pm.

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Filling and inpainting of a reassembled Mexican ceramic jar, likely made in the 19th century in the style of traditional búcaros de Indias (highly-decorated water vessels prized for their fragrant clay bodies which subtly infused the water with a pleasing taste and aroma), by Meghan Abercrombie, Gale R. Guild and Henry R. Guild Fellow for Advanced Training. Q and A session from 3–3:30 pm.

Friday, November 7, 2025

Inpainting of an 18th-century Peruvian painting, Nuestra Señora de Belén (Our Lady of Bethlehem), now in the final phase of treatment after two years of extensive conservation to consolidate vulnerable paint layers, repair long tears in the canvas, and secure its long-term structural stability, by Alice Limb, Andrew W. Mellon Fellow for Advanced Training. Q and A session from 2:30–3 pm and 4–4:30 pm.

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Inpainting of an 18th-century Peruvian painting, Nuestra Señora de Belén (Our Lady of Bethlehem), now in the final phase of treatment after two years of extensive conservation to consolidate vulnerable paint layers, repair long tears in the canvas, and secure its long-term structural stability, by Alice Limb, Andrew W. Mellon Fellow for Advanced Training. Q and A session from 2:30–3 pm and 4–4:30 pm.

Inpainting of an 18th-century Peruvian painting, Nuestra Señora de Belén (Our Lady of Bethlehem), now in the final phase of treatment after two years of extensive conservation to consolidate vulnerable paint layers, repair long tears in the canvas, and secure its long-term structural stability, by Alice Limb, Andrew W. Mellon Fellow for Advanced Training.

Sponsors

Supported by the Jane Mayer and Robert J. Mayer, M.D. Fund.

Supported by the MFA Associates/MFA Senior Associates Fund for Conservation Programs.