Luminary are invited for a behind-the-scenes look at Myth and Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture from the Torlonia Collection with Lisa Çakmak, Mary and Michael Jaharis Chair and Curator, and Katharine Raff, Elizabeth McIlvaine Curator, both of the Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium.
Leaving Europe for the first time, the Torlonia Collection holds a stunning selection of Roman sculptures and antiquities, from detailed busts to magnificent statues, and is one of the most storied private collections of ancient art in the world.
After an introduction to the landmark show with the co-curators, explore the exhibition galleries and enjoy an open bar complemented by a selection of light bites.
Open exclusively to Luminary members, this event requires advance registration. Please note that this event occurs when the museum is closed to the public, and registered guests will be provided entry instructions in advance of the program.
about the curators

Katharine A. Raff is the Elizabeth McIlvaine Curator, Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium at the Art Institute of Chicago, where she has worked since 2011. Her research focuses on ancient Roman art, with a particular emphasis on sculpture and the contexts in which such objects were made, used, and viewed over time.
Her recent projects include the exhibition Myth & Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture from the Torlonia Collection (2025), for which she is co-curator; the reinstallation of the Art Institute’s permanent gallery of Roman art (2024); and Collecting Stories (2019), an installation on ancient artworks and their modern afterlives. She holds a PhD from the University of Michigan and was previously awarded fellowships from the United States Fulbright Program and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Lisa Ayla Çakmak is the Mary and Michael Jaharis Chair and Curator of Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium at the Art Institute of Chicago. Prior to joining the museum in 2020, she spent 10 years at the Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM), most recently as the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Associate Curator. Lisa has lectured and published widely on an extensive range of scholarly and professional topics, including the roles of women, hybridization, and identity in the Hellenistic world, as well as museum professional training and career paths.
Contact Us
Interested in joining Luminary? Please reach out to us at luminary@artic.edu or (312) 443-3735 to begin enjoying the benefits of membership in this dedicated community of art enthusiasts, including exclusive opportunities with artists and curators, behind-the-scene tours, VIP tickets, and invitations to travel.