There's No 'Right' Way to Look at Art — Here's Why You Can Ignore Museum Placards (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Christine Coulson and her new book, ‘One Woman Show’.Photo:Taylor Jewell; Avid Reader Press

Taylor Jewell; Avid Reader Press

If there were aTikTok dancefor museum goers, it would look like this: shift to the right, lean forward, look left, head tilt, shuffle to the right again, over and over. There’s no “correct” way to look at art, but somehow everyone feels like there is — and it usually involves reading those little descriptions next to the art.

Christine Coulson’s new book ‘One Woman Show’.Avid Reader Press

Avid Reader Press

I often suggest that people go to The Met or any other local museum and just wander around until some work of art stops them — it doesn’t matter what it is. Then spend 15 minutes looking at that one thing (which is actually a long time…every time I do this, I’m amazed at what I start to see).

And then — and this is an important part — leave. Even after you walk out of the museum, that single object will stay with you, just like the catchy refrain of a pop song or a clever line from a movie. Whether or not you return to the museum, that connection will remain like a bond between new friends.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer , from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

You don’t always have to take art seriously, just like you can enjoy watchingBridgertonwithout knowing about Regency period England. There’s an ancient Mexican ceramic figure at The Met, more than 1,000 years old, that is cheerfully grinning with his tongue hanging out. That object is a potent reminder that goofiness is not modern, it’s human.

And isn’t it amazing that figure has survived?

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll approach the museum with that same energy sometime. There are friends waiting there for you too.

source: people.com