Member’s Art-Inspired Book Club
All members are welcome to join us as we read and discuss books that have an art or artist theme. In March we read The Art Thief by Michael Finkel, in July we read and discussed Theo of Golden by Allen Levi and our next book is The Muralist by B.A.Shapiro.
The Muralist is a 2015 historical novel by B.A. Shapiro, author of the New York Times bestseller The Art Forger. It blends art history, mystery, and political intrigue, set against the backdrop of pre–World War II America.
The story follows Alizée Benoit, a brilliant young American painter working for the Works Progress Administration (WPA), who vanishes in New York City in 1940 amid personal and political turmoil. Her disappearance is shrouded in mystery — not even her Jewish family in German-occupied France, her patron Eleanor Roosevelt, or her close friends like Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and Lee Krasner know what happened B.A. Shapiro+1.
Seventy years later, Danielle Abrams, Alizée’s great-niece, works at Christie’s auction house and uncovers hidden, enigmatic paintings behind works by now-famous Abstract Expressionist artists. These clues may hold answers to her aunt’s fate B.A. Shapiro+1.
The narrative alternates between the past and present, weaving together the lives of historical figures and fictional characters. It explores the rise of Abstract Expressionism, the plight of European refugees denied entry to the U.S., and the moral dilemmas of artists in times of political upheaval B.A. Shapiro+1.
Shapiro’s novel examines:
- The intersection of art and history, especially the overlooked role of European refugees in American art.
- The power of art to challenge or reflect political and social forces.
- The personal cost of talent when it collides with historical injustice.
- The moral choices individuals make in the face of evil
Join us for the next meeting October 27, 2026, 7-9 pm in Members’ Gallery
For information: Contact Diane Moser at education@fccagallery.org
