77-Year-Old Art Curator Masters Gen Z Slang for Museums

A 77-year-old art curator is proving that the best way to share ancient art with young people is to speak their language, literally.

Alison Luchs, curator of Early European Sculpture at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., has become a social media sensation for her hilarious art history videos. She describes 16th-century sculptures using perfect Gen Z slang, and millions of viewers are eating it up.

"Chat, peep this bussin' clay dish from the 16th century," Luchs says in her first viral video, released in December 2024. "Look how bro glazed it. He went goblin mode with all these colors."

The videos were born from a creative collaboration between Gen Z and Millennial museum staff. Sydni Myers, the museum's social media manager, told Good Morning America that planning sessions involved "a bunch of Gen Zers and Millennials just shouting out different words at each other."

Myers knew Luchs was the perfect person to star in the videos. She called the veteran curator "kind of a legend" at the museum with an "otherworldly cool presence."

Luchs embraced the challenge with enthusiasm. "I've always loved learning languages," she told Good Morning America, treating Gen Z slang as just another language to master.

Her favorite phrase? "The glow still slaps after 500 years." Luchs believes it should be a motto for the entire museum collection.

Why This Inspires

Luchs' videos show that genuine curiosity and willingness to learn can bridge any generation gap. At 77, she didn't dismiss Gen Z slang as silly or refuse to participate because she thought she was too old.

Instead, she dove in with full commitment and authenticity. The result is content that both entertains and educates, making centuries-old art accessible to young people who might never have stepped foot in a museum.

The comments reveal the deep impact of her work. Viewers write things like "Protect her at all costs" and "I'm coming to the museum just to meet her." Young people are connecting with art history because someone took the time to meet them where they are.

Luchs has read the heartfelt comments and finds them "wonderful" and "touching." The museum plans to create more videos featuring her expertise and charm.

Her success offers a beautiful lesson about staying open to new ways of communicating and never being too experienced or too old to try something completely different.