The American Federation of Arts (AFA) is pleased to announce that artist Will Cotton is the first featured speaker in the 2010/11 ArtTalks series, to be held at Christie’s on Tuesday, September 21, at 6:30 p.m. ArtTalks, the AFA’s lecture series, features notable figures in the art world. Following Cotton’s lecture, audience members are invited to participate in a question-and-answer session and a wine reception hosted by Christie’s.

About Will Cotton: Cotton is internationally recognized for his dreamy landscapes often composed of sugary desserts and idealized female figures. Drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as pin-ups and bakery windows, Cotton’s prints, canvases, and interactive projects explore the promise and possibility of gluttony, beauty, and desire. The convergence of indulgence and appetite has been a recurring theme in his work, and his art has long incorporated images of cotton candy, macaroons, peppermints, frosting, cakes, lollipops, marshmallows, and other sweet confections.

Cotton’s work is represented by Mary Boone Gallery in New York and by Daniel Templon in Paris. His work has been shown in group exhibitions at Kunsthalle Bielefeld, the Seattle Art Museum, the Flag Art Foundation, and the Columbus Museum of Art. Other projects have included a pop-up French bakery at Partners & Spade, New York, and a set of limited-edition pajamas designed for the 2009 Creative Time Slumber Party. Cotton recently served as the artistic director for the California Gurls music video for pop singer Katy Perry: the video places Perry in a world completely made of the confectionary elements found in his paintings. Cotton lives and works in New York.

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, ArtTalks, and online resources, visit www.afaweb.org.

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

When:                          Tuesday, September 21, 2010, 6:30–8:00 pm

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.