Art as a Mirror: Exploring Grief at the Met Museum

Throughout human history, art has played an important role in the ways that we memorialize loved ones in death and express our grief. Join us at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a meaningful exploration of how art can illuminate and validate our personal experiences with loss. Led by creative grief professional, Melanie Wilson, and arts educator, Deborah Chi, this intimate group gathering will invite participants to view and discuss several carefully selected works of art that speak to different aspects of the mourning process. Through reflective exercises and thoughtful conversation, participants will have the opportunity to explore their own grief and feelings around dying, using art as a catalyst for deeper understanding. This engaging experience encourages processing and dialogue as we reflect on how these artistic expressions might resonate with our own journeys through grief, creating space for both individual contemplation and shared understanding.

Please note: This is an interactive experience where participants are invited to share thoughts and feelings. We understand that some people prefer to process quietly while others find healing through verbal expression—both approaches are welcome and honored in our group.

This tour is available in English only, and will require some mobility as we will be touring across two floors of the museum. 

Group is limited to 15 people. Ticket purchase includes the tour and general admission to the museum. 

About Deborah Chi

Deborah Chi holds a BFA in Drawing & Painting, two consecutive Masters in Theological Studies in Philosophy, Theology & Ethics, and a Masters in Public Administration. Her academic focus is on aesthetics & ethics, and how art and storytelling can help foster human connection, and thus social transformation. She has taught art extensively and in various contexts, including the Museum of Fine Art, Boston, various cultural art centers, and high schools. In addition, she’s also lectured on the intersection of art, theology & philosophy. She resides in Brooklyn, NY, and is actively engaged in arts advocacy and community building.
Instagram: @deborahchi_art

About Life and Soul and our “Death of the Party” events:

Death of the Party is an event series for grieving folks who have experienced the death of someone close. Our events facilitate creative ways to explore and express grief in community. Death of the Party was recently incorporated into Life and Soul, a new business by Melanie Wilson taking a holistic approach to death and grief support after loss, helping folks to:

- honor creatively by crafting unique funerals and ceremonies,

- grieve authentically by hosting community events,

- organize effectively by offering after loss services for closing out an estate,

- and plan accordingly by mapping out end-of-life plans.

Life and Soul is queer owned and serves people across all walks of life. Please visit us at thelifeandsoul.co.