ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM

content strategycreative directioncustom commission
Written By Olivia Ives-Flores
 

Reimagining the museum as an artistic incubator

Displayed at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Henry James and American Painting exhibition, explores James’s expatriate social and artistic life at the turn of the last century and the influence of his creative circles on his work. We worked with the Gardner to produce a digital social media activation poised to engage fresh audiences.

 
 
 

The Challenge

How do we make an exhibition about 20th century elite social circles (a.k.a old white men in top hats 🎩) relevant to young and new audiences?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Digital Hashtag Mosaic

Each pixel expresses a digital “brushstroke” generating a crowd-sourced interpretation of John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Isabella.

This digital “living” work of art reflects Isabella’s legacy and lifelong passion for surrounding herself with creatives and serving the public with art. Guests of the museum contributed to the mosaic by posting their portraits on Instagram to recreate her portrait.

 
 
 
 
 

THE GOOD WORD

 
Testimonials

“We really, really valued your creativity, collaborative spirit, and professionalism — and also your flexibility (and patience) — throughout this new process for the museum.”

CHRISTINA NIELSEN
ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM

“Oh! is recognized as a cultural leader and arts influencer whose agency impacts and inspires the creative and social landscape of the Museum. Similar to Isabella Stewart Gardner herself, Olivia approaches her work with a default sense of freshness, creativity, and outside-the-box thinking so needed in an institution such as the Gardner. ”

BRIAN HONE
ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM

“Your insight and new ideas on how the collection can inspire contemporary practice is compelling and important knowledge for us to engage and expand our audiences.”

PEGGY FOGLEMAN
ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM

 
 
 
 
 

Visitor Activation

In concert, and in contrast, to our digital activation, we designed a series of “old-fashioned” postcards.

In homage to the long-lasting relationship that Henry James and Isabella Stewart Gardner fostered over written letters. Each postcard featured a unique quote from their correspondence. Museum guests were encouraged to take a seat in The Salon and write a note to a loved one.

 
 
 
 

SERVICES

Exhibition Consultant
Social Media Marketing Campaign
Design

SQUAD

Creative Direction & Curatorial: Olivia Ives-Flores
Digital Development : Tyler Shannon + Nicole Fichera
Curator: Christina Nielsen

 
Olivia Ives-Flores

Olivia is an artist, curator and designer living and working in Boston & NYC. Blending artistic fluency with a passion for art, branding and design, she specializes in designing visual narratives, exhibition curation and building brands that bring people together around art in the physical and digital world. 

Friends like to call her Olive :)

https://www.ohart.agency
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