January 10, 2012 — Contemporary artist Tom Burckhardt will give a Lunchtime Talk at the University of Virginia Art Museum on an exhibition of his work, "Tom Burckhardt: Paintings," on Jan. 23 from noon to 1 p.m. 

Burckhardt's paintings, made of oil on fabricated cast plastic supports, blur divisions between abstract and representational art. Often, his works evoke the psychological phenomenon known as "pareidolia," in which a person believes they randomly encounter the image of an object or a person, such as a face found in the clouds or a rock formation.

The museum is hosting this focused exhibition of Burckhardt's paintings in conjunction with his U.Va. Arts Board residency. The focus of Burckhardt's residency is working with studio art students to create an artistic interpretation of the Brooks Natural History Museum – which was located in U.Va.'s Brooks Hall from 1877 through the 1940s – that will be exhibited at U.Va.'s Ruffin Gallery. Burckhardt, who lives and works in New York, has exhibited widely and received numerous awards for his art.

"Tom Burckhardt: Paintings" will open Jan. 20 and run through June 3.

The museum's Lunchtime Talks offer the opportunity to join curators, faculty and special guests as they explore topics related to museum collections and exhibitions.

Lunchtime Talks are free and open to the public. For information, call 434-243-2050 or email museumoutreach@virginia.edu. The museum is open free to the public Tuesday through Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m. each day, and is located at 155 Rugby Road, one block from the Rotunda.