The Contemporary Portraiture Explored In “About Face”

This summer, the New York Academy of Art will once again partner with Southampton Arts Center for a thrilling exhibition that examines the diverse ways human beings are presented in today’s art.

About Face, which was co-curated by artist and musician Scott Avett and Academy President David Kratz, features over 70 works of sculpture, painting and photography, with pieces from John Alexander, Steven Assael, Scott Avett, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Berenice Bell, Margaret Bowland, Monica Cook, Will Cotton, Allan Saint Denis, Peter Drake, Richard Dupont, Matthew Alfonso Durante, Nicole Eisenman, Heidi Elbers, Eric Fischl, Audrey Flack, Steve Forster, Nick Gebhart, Ralph Gibson, Alonsa Guevara, Lyle Ashton Harris, Jacob Hayes, Mark Heming, Patty Horing, Judith Hudson, Sara Issakharian, Yung Jake, Edgar Jerins, Alex Katz, Sophia Kayafas, David Kratz, James Linkous, Damian Loeb, Liz Markus, Kim McCarty, Michael Meadors, Steve Mumford, Gary Murphy, James Nares, Alice Neel, Esteban Ocampo-Giraldo, Rebecca Orcutt, Eric Pedersen, Naudline Pierre, Larry Rivers, Randall Rosenthal, Tony Scherman, Dana Schutz, Andrew Sendor, Cindy Sherman, Bernardo Siciliano, Laurie Simmons, Billy Sullivan, Mickalene Thomas, Phillip Thomas, Jorge Vascano, Anna Wakitsch, Mitra Walter, Tun Ping Wang, and Lucy Winton showcased.

“The show focuses on contemporary portraiture,” noted co-curator David Kratz. “From Eric Fischl’s expressive realism to Mickalene Thomas’s in-your-face presentation to Will Cotton’s idealized perfection to the tautness of Jacob Hayes’ everyday scenes, we get a pretty complete picture of how contemporary artists are looking at the world around them and, I dare say, themselves.”

This exhibition allows viewers to slow down and consider the story present in every human face. This theme is closely tied to the Academy’s founding mission of promoting the tradition of figurative work in the context of contemporary art. The New York Academy of Art is a not-for-profit education and cultural institution that combines intensive training with active discourse. The Academy employs major exhibitions, an educational program, and a speaker series in order to serves as a creative and intellectual center for artists.

About Face will be on view Friday, July 28 through Sunday, September 17. An opening reception will be held on Friday, July 28, from 6 to 8 p.m., and an artist talk moderated by the curators will be presented on Friday, August 25. Admission to the opening reception is free.

Southampton Arts Center is located at 25 Jobs Lane in Southampton. For more information call 631-283-0967 or visit www.southamptonartscenter.org.