MFA Celebrity Lectures
Ruth and Carl Shapiro Sponsored Series
By: MFA - Sep 15, 2026
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The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), has announced the lineup for its 2026–2027 Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Celebrity Lectures, a longstanding series that showcases innovative voices in the arts, entertainment, and literature. The upcoming season kicks off on October 3 with Gabrielle Zevin, followed by Uzo Aduba on October 29, Mo Rocca on December 3, Rachel Dratch on February 25, and Ocean Vuong on May 13. |
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The MFA’s upcoming lecture season also includes programs with Jane Kamensky, president and CEO of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, on October 4; art historian, best-selling author, and champion of women artists Katy Hessel on October 24; artist Hoshinu Satoru on October 25; and artist Suzanne Jackson, whose retrospective Suzanne Jackson: What Is Love is on view at the Museum this fall, in conversation with writer and scholar Imani Perry on November 12. |
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Tickets for all programs are on sale now, with livestream options available for the Shapiro Celebrity Lectures. |
Shapiro Celebrity LecturesGabrielle Zevin: Imagining Others In this thought-provoking conversation, best-selling author Gabrielle Zevin explores the art of creating unforgettable characters and the essential role empathy plays in her writing process. Reflecting on the limitations of empathy in real life, and imagination’s ability to transcend those limitations, Zevin offers a behind-the-scenes look at how she developed the complex and authentic fictional lives that have resonated deeply with readers of her novels The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry (Algonquin Books, 2014) and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (Knopf, 2022). She also examines how her biracial identity has shaped her perspective on storytelling, belonging, and the nuanced ways people connect across differences. Hear Zevin’s insights on craft and her reflections on identity, creativity, and human connection. As you consider with Zevin how fiction expands our capacity to understand ourselves and one another, discover why stories remain one of our most powerful tools for building empathy. Uzo Aduba: Owning Your Identity Three-time Emmy Award-winning actor, best-selling author, and advocate Uzo Aduba invites you to join in a powerful conversation about identity, belonging, resilience, and courage. Aduba is best known for her standout portrayal of Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren in Orange Is the New Black, for which she garnered two Emmy awards. She can most recently be seen starring in Netflix's The Residence, and her previous credits include Netflix’s Painkiller, as well as the critically acclaimed FX series Mrs. America, in which Aduba won her third Emmy award for her portrayal of Representative Shirley Chisolm. Drawing from her celebrated career on screen and stage, as well as her memoir, The Road Is Good (Viking, 2024), Aduba shares the deeply personal journey that shaped her voice, purpose, and commitment to justice. With warmth, humor, and authenticity, she explores the transformative power of storytelling, family, and the enduring strength of community while encouraging others to embrace their own unique paths. Don't miss this inspiring evening that celebrates finding your place, building a table with space for every voice, and recognizing the power of our stories to create connection and change. Mo Rocca’s Variety Pack Approach to Living As a kid, Mo Rocca always liked the variety pack of cereals (well, minus the shredded wheat). Hear from Rocca as he explains how exploring a wide range of interests, rather than sticking to a strict life plan, has enriched his own life and can make yours more meaningful. From spending long afternoons paging through the 1974 World Book Encyclopedia as a child, to impulsively jumping in a car when he was in his 20s to visit the homes and gravesites of former presidents across the country, to his work on CBS News Sunday Morning—where he's covered everything from the origin of the “bro hug” to the deaths of beloved sitcom characters—indulging his curiosities has made for a fulfilling life, on camera and off. Because five-year plans are overrated. Just ask the old Soviet Union. Back to Boston: An Evening with Rachel Dratch Join Rachel Dratch for a lively evening of moderated conversation showcasing her unique blend of wit and irreverence. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the world of Rachel Dratch, you will be treated to her razor-sharp humor and unforgettable charm. Rachel is an actor, comedian, and writer perhaps best known for her seven years on Saturday Night Live, where she created many memorable characters, including Debbie Downer. Dratch’s other television credits include The King of Queens, 30 Rock, and Shameless, as well as the recurring role of John Oliver’s wife, Wanda Jo, on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. She is also is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir Girl Walks Into A Bar: Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle (Gotham Books, 2012). Dratch is a two-time Tony nominee for her work in The Rocky Horror Show and POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive. She got her start at the famed Second City Theater in Chicago after graduating from Dartmouth College. A native of Lexington, Massachusetts, Dratch is looking forward to returning to Boston for this event! Moderated by Irene Bremis, comedian, actress, and co-host of Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch. An Evening with Ocean Vuong Join acclaimed poet and novelist Ocean Vuong, author of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous (Penguin Press, 2019), Time Is a Mother (Penguin Press, 2022), and The Emperor of Gladness (Penguin Press, 2025), for an intimate conversation exploring the craft, purpose, and transformative power of writing. Reflecting on his journey across poetry and fiction, Vuong shares the literary influences, personal experiences, and creative practices that have shaped his singular voice and some of the most celebrated works of contemporary literature. Consider the enduring themes that define Vuong’s work—including family, memory, grief, migration, identity, masculinity, and the search for belonging—and gain a deeper understanding of how language can illuminate both personal and collective histories. Blending profound reflection with lyrical storytelling, this inspiring evening invites you to reflect on the ways in which literature can deepen our understanding of ourselves and one another, and the complexities of what it means to be human. |
Additional Featured ProgramsFounding Facts and Fictions: The Art that Made America What role do American museums have as civic spaces for dialogue? How can they challenge common misconceptions about the nation’s founding? On the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and at a moment when history is central to conversations about identity, democracy, and belonging, join historian Jane Kamensky and Ethan Lasser, the MFA’s Chief of Curatorial Affairs and Conservation, to celebrate, question, and learn as you consider what it means to engage with the past in ways that inform the future The Story of Art without Men: An Illustrated Guide to Amazing Women Artists For the release of her first children’s book, The Story of Art without Men: An Illustrated Guide to Amazing Women Artists, art historian, best-selling author, and champion of women artists Katy Hessel invites young readers and families on an exciting journey through art history. In this special event, Hessel discusses the inspiration behind her new book, sharing stories of extraordinary women artists from around the world and across centuries. Designed for younger audiences but captivating for readers of all ages, the book introduces a new generation to the creativity, innovation, and achievements of women who helped shape the history of art. The Rad Smith Program in Japanese Art In 1986, internationally renowned ceramic artist Hoshino Satoru experienced a natural disaster—a landslide caused by torrential rains—that transformed his perspective on clay. Until then, it had been merely a material through which he could present his ideals, but from that point on, he recognized that it possesses its own vitality. Join Hoshino for an examination of how his early works, carefully controlled and black as smoke, evolved into his later large-scale installations, which pulsate with energy and reflect the artist’s communion with the earth and nature. Deborah and Martin Hale Visiting Artist Lecture Join artist Suzanne Jackson and scholar and writer Imani Perry for an exploration of Jackson’s six-decade career, celebrated in the MFA exhibition Suzanne Jackson: What Is Love. From her ethereal early canvases to recent abstractions that suspend paint in midair, Jackson has continually reinvented her practice while remaining rooted in memory, place, and material exploration. In conversation with Perry, whose interdisciplinary scholarship focuses on the history of Black thought, art, and imagination, Jackson discusses the experiences and environments that have shaped her life and work. |