Folger Shakespeare Library: Elise Ansel

Artists often find fresh interpretations in classic works, and Elise Ansel, a Folger Artist Fellow, has done exactly that. Anchored in research from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s collection, Ansel’s exhibition reimagines Henry Fuseli’s 1793 painting *Macbeth Consulting the Vision of the Armed Head*. The resulting works blend contemporary artistic practice with Elizabethan and Jacobean visual culture, offering visitors a dialogue between past and present.

When: October 3 through November 9, 2026, during regular Folger Shakespeare Library hours.

Venue: Stuart and Mimi Rose Rare Book and Manuscript Exhibition Hall, Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC.

Artist: Elise Ansel, exhibiting as a Folger Artist Fellow.

Tickets: Price not specified; the exhibition is included with general admission to the Folger Shakespeare Library.

Exhibition: A solo presentation of works by Elise Ansel that respond to the Folger’s holdings, specifically reinterpreting Henry Fuseli’s *Macbeth Consulting the Vision of the Armed Head* (1793). The show is part of the “Contemporary Art at the Folger” rotating series, which highlights the work of Folger Artist Fellows.

Note: Concurrent with the exhibition, a gallery talk with Elise Ansel is offered as part of the Contemporary Art at the Folger series (separate event; check Folger’s schedule). The library awards fellowships to artists whose creative work is grounded in research on the stories, art, and objects in the Folger collection.