50 Paintings with Tulips

50 Paintings with Tulips 

Munch and Learn, April 8, 2026

Attending a Munch and Learn with Kevin Sharp, the Linda W. and S. Herbert Rhea Director of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, is always an interesting way to spend the lunch hour! What made this lovely Wednesday even more spectacular was that this lecture was held in the Hughes Pavilion. With a soundscape of birds chirping and bees buzzing, the audience was taken through hundreds of years of artwork featuring tulips. However, the warm sunlight that fills the Hughes Pavilion around noon on most days worked against the capabilities of the projector. The slides were a bit difficult to see in great detail, so we are sharing a PDF here for viewers to enjoy sharper and more vibrant images of Kevin's selected works.

Kevin did not pull the number fifty out of a hat when he decided that he would review 50 paintings of tulips. If you haven't heard yet, it's the Dixon's 50th year of being open to the public. Just four months in, this year has been a whirlwind of excitement here at the Dixon. Every member of our staff has had a hand in creating moments to celebrate, including planting 650,000 tulip bulbs, producing a documentary film, throwing an anniversary party during an ice storm, and hosting five free intimate wedding ceremonies in the Dixon gardens. This milestone is reflected in everything we do this year, even in something as familiar as a Munch and Learn.