Aesthetic Adventurer Team

Jennie Hirsh (Ph.D., Bryn Mawr College) is Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Maryland Institute College of Art. With postdoctoral fellowships at Princeton and Columbia universities as well as support from institutions including the Fulbright Commission, the Mrs. Giles Whiting, and the Wolfsonian FIU, her research spans visual culture, critical theory, museum studies, and architecture. For the past two decades, she has led bespoke tours of art and architecture in Italy, France, and the US, and delivers lectures and seminars on art, architecture, film, and design, offering sophisticated yet accessible insights into cultural history, curatorial practice, and place. An interdisciplinary scholar and thinker, Jennie has co-edited Contemporary Art and Classical Myth (Ashgate & Routledge) and Ventriloquism, Performance, and Contemporary Art (Routledge), in addition to collaborating on curatorial projects and authoring dozens of scholarly essays for exhibition catalogues and journals.

Marisa Newman is the owner of a contemporary art gallery, a role she has dedicated herself to for over 20 years. With a passion for curating innovative and thought-provoking art, she has established her gallery as a prominent space for both emerging and established artists. Throughout her career, Marisa has cultivated a deep appreciation for the evolving landscape of contemporary art. In addition to her work in the gallery world, she curates exclusive art and culture travel experiences, offering collectors and enthusiasts immersive journeys into the global art scene. Through these bespoke tours, she connects guests with renowned artists, private collections, and hidden cultural gems, creating unforgettable encounters at the intersection of travel and art. Marisa earned B.A. in English Literature and Art History from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. in Art History from Columbia University.