Between Lure and Abyss: The Aesthetics of Ambivalence
Join us for a talk with Véronique Côté
This talk explores the monstrous and the seductive feminine in Surrealist
art, tracing how artists use sirens, hybrids, and grotesques to question
identity, power, and desire. From the mythic femme fatales of early
Surrealism to the transformative “monstresses” in the work of Benjamin
Cañas (1933–1987), we examine how the monstrous body becomes a site
of fear and fascination. What does it mean to be lured toward the abyss—
and who has the power to occupy that liminal space?
Veronique Côté is Director of the University Galleries and the Fogelman
Sports Museum at Florida Atlantic University. She holds an MFA in Visual
Studies from SUNY Buffalo and an MA in Museum Studies from Harvard
University. Her curatorial work explores the intersections of contemporary
art, Indigenous material culture, and inclusive museum practice.