Rodney’s talk will concern a brief back and forth that took place between him and an academic scholar regarding Simone Leigh's work. The lecture will explore the nature of reading and misreading 
art and mistaking critiques of artwork as appraisals of someone's being. He will explore why what he calls "slippages" occur in art criticism more broadly and what they mean for art writing when identity is 
a prime focus.

Seph Rodney, PhD is a regular contributor to The New York Times, and a former senior critic and opinions editor for Hyperallergic. He is also a curator of contemporary art exhibitions, lately co-
curating Get in the Game, at SF MoMA, the largest show that museum has undertaken. He will also co-curate a show on the American landscape to open at the Church at Sag Harbor in June of 2026.

For reasonable accommodations, please contact Cassidy at 813-974-2360 or cassidysantos@usf.edu.