Meet the Man Who Knows All The Secrets of the MET
We’re pretty sure Mark Venaglia could make anyone his friend in a matter of seconds. His infectious personality and enthusiasm for life and art make him not only a stellar SideTour host, but also a great friend and teacher. On his SideTour, he takes you through the Metropolitan Museum of Art and narrates with the controversial backstories of the famous pieces. These are the things the curators of this famous museum don’t want you to know. Here, we ask him about what makes him tick:
If your life had a soundtrack, what would be your theme song?
“Ode to Joy”
What would be the title of your memoir?
“A Most Fertile Existence (Shyt Makes Things Grow)”
What does your ideal NYC day look like?
I have enough space to work on 4 paintings simultaneously, each one 5’ or 10’ wide…which I do immediately upon waking.
At mid-day I hit the Union Square Farmer’s Market for fresh provisions, and prior to sunset encounter humans for an exchange - facilitating a Tour of a Manhattan museum or a Wellness Through Art-Making class. I would be at The Hudson’s edge or on my rooftop for The Blue Hour, an intense work-out, then dinner with my Life Partner made at home, concluded with more time to paint as the rest of the city goes to sleep.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I’ve had more than the average amount of unexplainable, truly bizarre experiences - making and discussing art are the closest practices that generate some sense of understanding for me.
Who are your biggest influences?
Ben Franklin, Agnes Pelton, Baron Alexander von Humboldt, Booker T. Washington
Photo credit: Ron Luxemburg
