Hi, there! We’re ARTSQ!
Cliff Palace, built between 1190–1280 CE, at Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
(Photo: Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank, CC BY-NC-ND-SA 2.0)
Did you know that one of the most famous paintings in Chinese history is a portrait of a feisty horse owned by an emperor who also loved synchronized horse dances? Have you ever heard about how the Aztec artists who made things entirely of colorful feathers were so important they didn’t have to pay taxes? Have you ever heard about the cat witch of Okabe, Japan? Did you know the ancient Egyptians worshiped cats? If you want to know the answers to these questions and many others, you’ve come to the right place!
Hi, there! We’re ARTSQ.
We’re on a quest to ignite a passion for world history by bringing it to life through art! Our mission is to instill a lifelong love of art and history in everyone, from kids to kids-at-heart. We believe that learning should be fun and accessible, with books and videos and creative projects that make history come alive. We hope to inspire you to create and think deeply about important issues.
ARTSQ was founded by four PhDs: Cortney Chaffin Kim, Heather Graham, Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank, and Ellen Larson, all with extensive training and applied skills within the fields of art history, archaeology, cultural studies, curatorial/museum studies, and digital humanities. Our collective experiences allow us to create content that is rigorously researched and presented, while at the same time, is engaging and accessible for people of all ages, interests, and backgrounds!
From ancient Chinese warrior queens to Mesoamerican ritual objects and the artistic practices of artists living today, over the next several months, we will be rolling out multimedia content aimed at informing and inspiring! And that’s just the beginning! In addition to introducing artists, makers, and specific artistic and cultural objects, we will share the ABCs of Art History, providing you with the skills and confidence to look and appreciate art made across space and time. Maybe you want to learn more about a specific culture or historic period, find creative educational opportunities for your kids, or simply get more out of a visit to an art museum or cultural institution on your next vacation! Whatever your reason, we have content perfectly tailored to your particular needs and learning goals. And, did we mention we’ll share special content on cats and mythical beasts in art?!
The death mask of the most famous ancient Maya king, Pakal
(Photo: Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank, CC BY-NC-ND-SA 2.0)
In addition to a growing library of videos (free and accessible on our YouTube channel), we are launching our very own ARTSQ Books, publishing middle-grade non-fiction books. Our initial series, Women in Art & Archaeology, highlights the lives and achievements of important women throughout history. Our first book in the series, Unearthing Fu Hao: China’s Warrior Queen will launch in April 2024. In celebration of this project, we will be announcing plans for a special launch party soon!
We have big plans and are just getting started! Join us to embark on a colorful exploration of the past that will spark your imagination and cultivate a lifelong love of art and history! Subscribe to our newsletter and YouTube channel and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. If you like what you see, consider supporting us on Patreon so we can keep bringing you exciting new content!
Finally, we want to know what you think! If you have ideas for videos, books, or other learning materials, send us a message! We’d love to hear from you!
