Presented by the museum’s President and CEO, this series explores one piece of artwork from an assortment of viewpoints—historical, political, biographical, cultural and theoretical. Vive Moi by Niki de Saint Phalle will be discussed in the museum's 4th floor gallery April 18. The sculpture is representative of de Saint Phalle's series of Nanas, voluminous female forms often constructed in joyful, dance-like poses. The Nanas have come to symbolize de Saint Phalle's oeuvre.

Vive Moi was created in 1968 and is part of the permanent collection of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. The piece will be on view March 18 through October 3, 2011 during the exhibition, Niki de Saint Phalle: Creation of a New Mythology. The exhibition is made possible with a generous grant from Wells Fargo Private Bank.

The lecture begins at 6 p.m. and is free for members and $10 for non-members. Tickets may be reserved (for members) or purchased online, by phone 704.353.9200 or at the museum's visitor services desk. Cash bar.

Niki de Saint Phalle, Vive Moi, 1968, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. ©2011 Niki Charitable Art Foundation. All rights reserved.