Author and scholar Susan L. Aberth presents a special talk on Leonora's occult influences and is joined by editor of The Library of Esoterica Taschen book series Jessica Hundley.

The British-born Mexican artist and writer Leonora Carrington led a remarkable life, pioneering unique esoteric, feminist, and ecological messages during her long career. In addition to providing a brief biography, this program will delve into the artist’s interests in alchemy, Tibetan Buddhism, Tarot, astrology, Kabbalah, witchcraft, as well as indigenous Mexican healing traditions.

Susan L. Aberth is the Edith C. Blum Professor in the Art History and Visual Culture Program at Bard College. She received her B.A. from UCLA, M.A. from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, and her Ph.D. from the Graduate Center, City University of New York. Co-authored with Mexican curator Tere Arcq The Tarot of Leonora Carrington (Fulgur Press, 2020); Authored Leonora Carrington: Surrealism, Alchemy and Art (Lund Humphries, 2004). Contributed to Surrealism and Magic (Guggenheim Venice, 2021); Not Without My Ghosts (2020, Traveling exhibition in England); Agnes Pelton: Desert Transcendentalist (Phoenix Art Museum, 2019); Juanita Guccione: Otherwhere (Napa Valley Museum, 2019); Surrealism, Occultism and Politics: In Search of the Marvelous (Routledge Press, 2018); Leonora Carrington: Cuentos Magicos (Museo de Arte Moderno & INBA, Mexico City, 2018); Unpacking: The Marciano Collection (Delmonico Books, Prestel, 2017); and Leonora Carrington and the International Avant-Garde (Manchester University Press, 2017), as well as to Abraxas: International Journal of Esoteric Studies, Black Mirror, and Journal of Surrealism of the Americas.

Images:
Kati Horna, Portrait of Leonora Carrington in her studio, opposite her painting Nunscape at Manzanillo, 1956 © Norah Horna

The Star, from The Tarot of Leonora Carrington published by Fulgur Press