If you’ve ever looked at a 16th-century painting and thought, “Why is there a bird-monster wearing a funnel for a hat?” you aren't alone—and Western Illinois University Professor Sherry C.M. Lindquist has the answers.
Lindquist, a professor of art history, has been selected to deliver the 2026 Distinguished University Professor Lecture. Her talk, titled “Art, Horror, Humor, and Empathy: the Creatures of Hieronymus Bosch,” will dive into the bizarre, hybrid monsters that haunt the works of the legendary artist Hieronymus Bosch.
The lecture isn't just a trip through a Renaissance nightmare; it’s a modern reality check. Lindquist will explore how Bosch’s depictions of ridicule and degradation still resonate in our 21st-century culture.
Most importantly, she’ll tackle the 'ugly' side of art history, discussing how we can responsibly handle the legacies of prejudice and hatred that are often baked into our shared cultural heritage.
The event takes place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, in the COFAC Recital Hall. It’s free and open to the public, but if you can’t make it in person, the lecture will be livestreamed on WIU’s YouTube channel. Don't miss out—it's time to see what those monsters are actually trying to tell us.
