Believe it or not: This museum curator’s got the rizz
Times of India | 30 January 2026
A 77-year-old museum curator has become an unlikely Gen Z icon. Alison Luchs, deputy head of sculpture at the National Gallery of Art, learned the latest youth slang — from GOATED to big drip — to describe centuries-old masterpieces in short videos, and the internet ate it up. What started as an educational experiment racked up millions of views, proving that classical art can still slay in the age of memes.
Art + Rizz = Viral
Luchs stood by a 16th-century urn on camera, dropping lines like “Haters will say this urn is mid,” “screamed big drip” and “Honestly, she ate.” Nearly 9 million views later, viewers praised her natural delivery and fresh spin on guided tours – turning old masterpieces into fresh content.
Gen Z Lingo School
To prepare, Luchs studied slang like it was a new language – learning terms describing charisma (rizzler), cool vibes (aura points) and glamorous makeovers (yassified). Her enthusiasm has even reshaped daily life: colleagues say she now uses the new vocabulary off-camera too. The gallery is also running a contest inviting short-form art videos, showing that remix culture isn’t going anywhere.