Attributes and Identity: Contemporary Portraits from the Collection invites viewers to reflect on how first impressions are shaped by outward appearances and how the sitters’ attributes are immediately associated with their identity. This exhibition aims at challenging the instinct we often have to “judge a book by its cover.” As you journey through the portraits, take time to consider the deeper intricacies of each subject’s identity.
We encourage you to observe the clues—objects, situations, garments, and locales—that are carefully chosen and presented to your gaze. These details offer insights into who the subject may be, their relationships to others when portrayed as a group, and the connection they may share with the artist who has immortalized them. What do these attributes reveal? How do they help shape our understanding of the sitter’s story and help us determine their identity?
Loosely divided into nine interconnected and fluid sections—Self-Portraiture, Muses, Mothers, Queens, Icons, U.S., Migrants, Relationships, Gender Identity—this exhibition encourages thoughtful exploration beyond the surface, offering a more nuanced and multifaceted perspective on the complexity of identity, as seen through the lens of contemporary portraiture.
