Marga Patterson
Author
Artist and Writer. Marga is fascinated and inspired by the ancient world, art history and archaeology. You can find more of her work here: www.margapatterson.com
The Magic and Splendor of Karagöz—Turkish Shadow Puppets
Evoking the imagination of adults and children for centuries, Karagöz (“black eye” in Turkish) is a popular and beloved Turkish shadow puppet...
Marga Patterson 11 February 2026
The Fascinating Ceramic Tile Art of the Anatolian Seljuks
The ceramic tile art of the Anatolian Seljuks dazzled with its mystical turquoise hues, fantastical creatures, and figural depictions. So, who were...
Marga Patterson 11 February 2026
The Wonder and Glory of Medieval Portable Shrines
For devoted Christians, a portable shrine provided an immediate and intimate way to connect to a higher power within a monastic space or the privacy...
Marga Patterson 9 December 2025
Art in the Golden Hour
The golden hour is a brief and awe-inspiring moment filled with the most radiant light, intense colors, and deep shadows. For centuries, artists have...
Marga Patterson 5 December 2025
Beasts, Teachers, and Protectors: Centaurs in Art
Centaurs are human-horse hybrid creatures composed of dualities: human and nature, chaos and neutrality, love and violence. From ancient Greece to...
Marga Patterson 2 October 2025
A Luxurious Desire: Ancient Near Eastern Ivory Carvings
The allure of ivory, a lustrous material that gleams and glows when polished, exudes warmth and mysterious beauty. Near Eastern ivory carvings are...
Marga Patterson 24 July 2025
Mysterious Female Nude Statuettes of the Parthian Empire
Several female nude statuettes have been unearthed from the subterranean landscape of ancient Iraq. Rendered in the Greco-Babylonian style, these...
Marga Patterson 24 July 2025
Valentine Schlegel: Sculptor of Organic Abstraction
Sculptor, ceramist, artist, and teacher. Valentine Schlegel (1925–2021) was a headstrong individual with fervent, creative independence who carved...
Marga Patterson 18 June 2025
The Multi-Sensory Universe of Nick Cave
Nick Cave activates our imaginations with his tangible soundsuit sculptures, soulful dance performances and whimsical installations.
Marga Patterson 16 June 2025
Art and Ritual: Culture of the Enigmatic Moche People
The Moche were an ancient, Indigenous people of Andean Peru. They are considered to be one of the most influential civilizations of the ancient...
Marga Patterson 13 June 2025
