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Museum of Art

HOT TAKES

Tell us how you really feel about the art at the MOA! Pick one or more prompts from each of the four categories below and find an artwork that fits the description.

    • Best use of color in the whole museum. Where do your eyes go first? Why does the color pop?
    • I can’t tell if this is genius or just weird. What makes you pause? What tips the scale?
    • I didn’t expect to like this—but I kind of do. What surprised you? What changed your mind?
    • I want to ask this artist: “Are you okay?” What makes you feel concerned or curious about them?
    • I wish this had more color. How would adding color change the feeling or focus?
    • I wouldn’t hang this in my room—but I would show someone a picture of it. What is worth sharing, even if you wouldn’t live with it?
    • If this artwork was in a movie, it would be a ____ (movie genre) movie. What scene would it show up in?
    • If this was hanging in my house, I’d invite people over just to brag. What’s the show-off detail that makes this a brag piece?
    • The artist was definitely going through something here. What emotional vibe or story are you picking up on?
    • This artist is clearly showing off—and I respect it. What technique or detail shows their skill?
    • This artist said “watch this.” And nailed it. What moment feels bold, risky, or confident?
    • This artwork made me pause—and I’m not sure why. Look again—what details pull you in?
    • This artwork makes me uncomfortable—and that’s probably the point. What specifically makes you uncomfortable?
    • This artwork would make a great hot take on the internet. What’s the caption that would cause a comment war?
    • This deserves to be trending. What would the hashtag be? Who would share it?
    • This gets a solid 4.5/5 from me and here is why ___. What’s the .5 deduction for?
    • This is “main character energy” in visual form. What makes it take up space so confidently?
    • This is the kind of art that starts arguments. What’s the debate—and whose side are you on?
    • This makes more sense the longer you look. What do you notice/think about it the more you look?
    • This one is doing too much—and I kind of love it. What is this work trying to do? What works?
    • This work describes how I’m feeling today. How does it describe you? Can you find a work that shows the opposite?
    • This work is peaceful chaos. Where’s the chaos? Where’s the calm?
    • This work made me raise my eyebrows. What’s shocking, sassy, or unexpected?
    • This work probably deserves more attention than it gets. Why might it be overlooked—and why should people care?
    • This would have been better if it were bigger/smaller. How does the size affect the message or experience?
    • How would this artwork change if made today? What would stay the same? What would shift?
    • I didn’t care for this work until I read the label. How did reading the label change your opinion of the work?
    • I’d caption this work with one word: ___. Why that word?
    • If this artwork could travel in time, where would it go? What would change–or stay the same–in a different era?
    • If this artwork had a best friend in the gallery, which one would it be? What connects the two works?
    • If this were the first slide in a PowerPoint, what would the rest of the presentation be about? What story or message would the slides tell? What do you see that makes you say that?
    • This art is a mashup of two totally different ideas. What are the two ideas—and how do they collide in this work?
    • This art needs a sequel. What is part two—and what would it look like?
    • This art reminds me of a song lyric. What lyric does it remind you of and why?
    • This artwork is asking the viewer to participate. How are you being invited in—or challenged?
    • This artwork is figuring itself out. What mixed messages or contrasts do you see?
    • This belongs in a villain’s lair (in the best way). What makes it dark, powerful, or dramatic?
    • This could be the logo for a brand—but what would it sell? What values or vibe would that brand have?
    • This doesn’t fit my definition of art, but I still think it’s art. What is your definition of “art”? How is this still art, even though it doesn’t fit those bounds?
    • This feels like a message from someone in the future. What feels futuristic? What are they trying to tell us?
    • This feels like a moment frozen in time. What just happened, and what is about to? What makes you say that?
    • This is the work I’d use to convince someone that art still matters because ___. What makes it meaningful, powerful, or unforgettable?
    • This is what happens when caffeine meets creativity. Where’s the energy and wildness in the artwork?
    • This made more sense to me when I saw its title. How did knowing the title change your understanding of the work?
    • This work could make people feel uncomfortable or uneasy. Why might it be challenging?
    • This work would not make sense to someone 100 years from now. What’s so current or specific that it might get lost over time?
    • This would be perfect on the wall of a teenager’s bedroom. What kind of teen would choose it—and why?
    • This would confuse my mom, but I’d try to explain it like this: ___. What’s one way to help someone “get” it?
    • What would your parents or grandparents say about this? How would you respond?
    • What’s missing from this artwork? What would you add and why?
    • I wish I could ask the artist what they were thinking about; I think they were thinking: ____. What detail led you to that guess?
    • I would absolutely swipe past this on social media—but in person, it hits differently. What changes by seeing it in real life?
    • I would rename this artwork “_____” What inspired your title?
    • I would wear a t-shirt with this work on it. What is the fit, fabric, and style of the shirt—and what mood does it give?
    • I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s different because ____. What is surprising or unexpected about it?
    • If I could step inside this artwork, the first thing I’d hear is ___. What sound, music, or silence fits? What do you see that makes you say that?
    • If I could step into this work, it would smell like ____. What detail of the work makes you say that?
    • If I had to explain this artwork using only emojis, I’d use: ___. Why did you choose those emojis?
    • If I were inside this painting, I would feel these textures: ____. What about the artwork suggests that texture or sensation?
    • If I were inside this painting, I would feel these textures: ___. What about the artwork suggests that texture or sensation?
    • If this artwork made a noise every time you looked at it, it would be ___. What do you see in the image that makes you say that?
    • If this work had a theme song, it would be ___. What vibe or message does the song share with the art?
    • This artwork feels heavy—and not just physically. What weighs it down emotionally or symbolically?
    • This artwork has a voice—and here’s what it’s saying: ___. How do the colors, shapes, or subject matter suggest that message?
    • This artwork is a metaphor for my phase of life because ____. What part of life does it connect to?
    • This artwork makes me feel itchy or uneasy. What elements give it that physical discomfort?
    • This artwork would be the perfect cover art for a concept album. What’s the album called? What do you see in the image that makes you say that?
    • This feels like it belongs in another time. What time period does it remind you of and why?
    • This is the kind of art that changes depending on your mood. How would you interpret it differently on a good day versus a bad one?
    • This is the visual equivalent of ASMR. What details are oddly satisfying or sensory-rich?
    • This should be scratch-and-sniff. What would it smell like? What do you see in the image that makes you say that?
    • This work feels like staring at the sun too long. What about it feels overwhelming—or hard to look away from?
    • This would be amazing as a soundscape. What instruments or sounds would you use to capture its vibe?
    • This would make a great mural at ____. (name place) Why there? What does it add to the space?
    • I don’t relate to this—but I want to understand it. What do you think the message is? What makes you say that?
    • I want to see a meme made from this. What caption would you add? Why did you choose that work?
    • If I was feeling overstimulated, I would want to look at this artwork. What about this work is calming to you?
    • If this artwork had a mood ring, what color would it be? What feeling does that color represent here?
    • If this artwork was a character, what would their story be? What do you see in the image that makes you say that?
    • If this artwork were a season, it would be ____. What do you see that makes it that season?
    • If this work was in my favorite TV show, it would hang in ____. (which room?) What about the artwork feels fitting to that space?
    • This artwork belongs in a sci-fi movie. What do you see that makes you say that?
    • This artwork gives off protective energy. What’s being protected—and why?
    • This artwork is basically a love letter to something. What (or who) do you think the artist loves? How can you tell?
    • This artwork should come with a soundtrack—what genre? What makes you feel that way?
    • This artwork would totally go viral—but for what reason? What would the caption be?
    • This could totally be an album cover for ___. (name artist or band) What do you see in the image that makes you say that?
    • This feels like it was made for someone who’s hurting. How might this artwork speak to their pain?
    • This feels like it’s speaking to a specific group of people—who? Why do you think that?
    • This gave me chills in a good way. What detail or emotion hit hardest?
    • This gave me chills in a good way. What detail or emotion hit the hardest?
    • This is what happiness looks like. What details make it joyful?
    • This made me think of something personal. What memory or moment came to mind?
    • This reminds me of _____. (a place, person, memory, or moment) What made that connection click?
    • This reminds me of something going on in the world today. What does it resonate with?
    • This should be the cover of a novel. What makes you think that?
    • This work = good chaotic. What about it feels messy but interesting?
    • This work feels like a movie scene. What genre? What part of the story? What makes you think that?
    • This work just feels loud. What makes it feel like it’s yelling, visually or emotionally?

Try another gallery activity!

MORE GALLERY ACTIVITIES:

Carl Bloch Timeline

10 minutes
Age 12+
Main Level

Virtual Gallery Guide - Earthbound and Heavenward

5-60 minutes
Ages 12+
Lower Level

Large-Scale Favorites at the MOA

20 minutes
Age 5+
North Entrance

Sculpture Garden Guide

20 minutes
Age 5+
Outside the South Entrance