Mind/Body: Contemplative Art Viewing

There is a particular quality of attention that most museum visits never reach — the kind that slows the breath, softens the gaze, and allows an artwork to speak rather than simply be seen. This session at the Fowler Museum at UCLA in Los Angeles offers exactly that kind of encounter. Before the museum opens its doors to the general public, a small group will move through the Fowler galleries in stillness, guided by mindfulness practices designed to transform the act of looking into a form of inner inquiry.

Leading the experience is Mitra Manesh, a senior mindfulness educator at UCLA Mindful, heart-mind consultant to Fortune 500 companies, former Human Rights Commissioner, and recipient of the Golden Jubilee Medal from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. A painter, poet, and author of The Attentionist — a philosophical fable rooted in the question of what changes when we truly pay attention — Mitra was born in Iran and draws deeply from the Persian wisdom tradition. Her work has guided learners and leaders across four continents, and her presence brings both scholarly depth and rare personal warmth to this contemplative art viewing session.

This program is presented in partnership with UCLA Mindful, weaving together the Fowler's world-class collection and a rigorous, compassionate approach to mindfulness. For anyone in Los Angeles curious about wellness and mindfulness as a living practice rather than a technique, this is an invitation to discover how art can hold space for presence, reflection, and self-understanding.

What to Expect

The session runs for one hour and takes place in the Fowler galleries before the museum opens to the public, creating an atmosphere of rare quiet and intimacy. Mitra Manesh guides participants through the space using contemplative practices — slowing perception, inviting sustained attention, and gently prompting a deeper emotional and aesthetic engagement with the artworks on view. There are no art history prerequisites and no meditation experience required. Participants leave having experienced their own capacity for attention as something meaningful and trainable. Admission is free.

Venue & Logistics

The Fowler Museum at UCLA is located at 308 Charles E Young Drive North on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles. The session is conducted in English and lasts one hour. Tickets are free and available to reserve in advance. No specific attire is mentioned by the organizers, though comfortable, quiet clothing suited to slow movement through gallery spaces would complement the experience. This program runs on multiple Friday mornings across the autumn season — the October date is the first in the series, with additional sessions in November and December.