The American Federation of Arts (AFA) is pleased to announce artist Ghada Amer as the next featured speaker in its 2009/10 ArtTalks series. Following the lecture, audience members are invited to participate in a question-and-answer session and a wine reception.

About Ghada Amer: Amer is best known for her stitched canvases with dangling threads, many of them with erotic motifs, but she is in fact a multimedia artist with a remarkable range of talents. Her paintings, photographs, sculptures, videos, collaborations (with Reza Farkhondeh), performances, and installations are united in their thematic concerns: the representation of female sexuality and pleasure, the negotiation of the restrictions of traditionally female roles, and Western (mis)perceptions of Middle Eastern culture.

Born in Cairo, Egypt, and educated in France, Amer, who is currently based in New York, has presented work in many solo and group exhibitions throughout the world. With Intimate Confessions in 2000, she was the first Arab artist to have a solo exhibition at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Amer’s work is the subject of an upcoming AFA exhibition—Ghada Amer: Happily Ever After.

The final ArtTalk of the season, featuring artist Fred Tomaselli, will be held on Tuesday, April 13.

In-kind support for ArtTalks is provided by Christie’s.

About the American Federation of Arts: Celebrating its 100th anniversary, the AFA is a nonprofit institution that organizes art exhibitions for presentation in museums around the world, publishes exhibition catalogues, and develops various educational programs. The AFA’s mission is to enrich the public’s experience of art and understanding of culture by organizing and traveling a diverse offering of exhibitions embracing all aspects of art history. Over the years, millions of visitors in museums around the world have viewed more than 3,000 AFA exhibitions. For more information about the AFA’s exhibitions, publications, artist talks, and online resources, see www.afaweb.org

When:                          Thursday, March 11, 6:30–8 p.m.

Where:                         Christie’s, 20 Rockefeller Plaza, 49th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues

Getting There:                  Subway: B, D, F, V to Rockefeller Center; E to 53rd Street

Tickets:                         $15; $10 for AFA members and students with valid ID. Seating is limited and reservations are required. For reservations, please call 212.988.7700 ext. 210 or e-mail arttalks@afaweb.org.

Press Contacts:                  Michaelyn Mitchell, Director of Publications and Communications, 212.988.7700 ext. 228 or mmitchell@afaweb.org