Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey Among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See

During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Bosker loses direct access to art as New York City’s museums and galleries close. After initial concerns about basic necessities subsided, she develops an intense desire to experience art again. She maintains connections to the art world through virtual meetings, learning how galleries adapt through digital sales and how artists like Julie Curtiss find unexpected benefits in isolated studio time.

Unable to visit exhibitions, Bosker begins creating art herself through weekly virtual painting sessions with artist Liz Ainslie. These exercises, particularly one requiring her to describe objects as if encountering them for the first time, transform how she perceived everyday surroundings. This new perspective leads her to discover artistic beauty in unexpected places, from shower droplets to supermarket displays. She connects this experience of learning to see differently with her grandmother’s post-Holocaust journey of reconstructing her worldview.

Bosker’s engagement with art evolves significantly: She now approaches unfamiliar artworks with curiosity rather than skepticism, prioritizes direct experience over critical interpretation, and trusts her aesthetic judgments. These changes affect multiple aspects of her life, from her home decor preferences to her writing approach. She advocates for experiencing diverse artworks beyond major institutions and taking time to develop personal responses rather than relying on institutional validation.