Portraits: More Than Just a Pretty Face

"la femme Sage" portrait of Jackie Wall 2007
Amie Oliver mixed media on birch panel 20" x 20 x 1"

excerpted from VCU press release:

"Portrait Exhibition Challenges Preconceptions"

The VCUarts Anderson Gallery, Virginia Commonwealth University’s Museum of the Arts, is pleased to announce its Summer 2008 Exhibition, Portraits: More Than Just a Pretty Face, on view June 20th through August 2nd, 2008.

This thought-provoking exhibition examines how portraits—be they artworks or everyday objects—use specific visual codes to assert individual identities, cultural norms, social roles and relationships between the person portrayed and viewers. It includes artworks in a range of media and dating from various time periods, including contemporary works by internationally renowned artists Cindy Sherman and Chuck Close, celebrated regional artists Thomas A. Daniel and Theresa Pollak, and emerging artists Timothy Rusterholz and Chinonyeelu Amobi. Many of the works have been lent by private collectors, artists, or fine arts galleries and are displayed alongside works from the Anderson Gallery permanent collection. A complete check list of the artists included in the exhibition is posted below.

Such things as baseball cards, currency, and mug shots are also presented to demonstrate that “portrait codes” are used not only by artists but also by marketing professionals, bureaucratic institutions, and anyone who has taken a snapshot of friends, families, or even pets. The salient questions that are posed in the exhibition— “How does the portrait employ or manipulate visual codes; to what end? What statement does it make about the person portrayed and who’s interest does it serve?”—draw from ongoing research by Dr. Eric Garberson, Associate Professor in the VCUarts Department of Art History. They explore the history of ideas surrounding the production and reception of portraits.

The idea for the show, curated by students enrolled in the Spring 2008 VCU graduate-level Museum Studies class, began with an intellectual challenge with which museum professionals grapple: How can academic research be displayed in an accessible yet appropriately sophisticated manner? Scholars are constantly developing new theories that change the way we think about art history,” said Samantha Best, one of the student curators for the show.

“Unfortunately, these cutting-edge theories often remain in academia without being concurrently presented to the public through exhibitions. With our show, we hope to bridge the gap between contemporary art historical research and museum practice." VCUarts’ Museum Studies program prepares students to enter the museum profession with sound foundations of critical awareness and practical knowledge. From a curriculum of readings and exercises designed to challenge the student's preconceived notions of the museum's function and role in society, students emerge with a clear understanding of current museological issues. Coursework fosters creative strategizing and critical thinking skills to meet the challenges of today's museum profession. Additionally, students gain practical experience through museum internships and projects such as Portraits: More Than Just a Pretty Face, which benefits from the ongoing support of Anderson Gallery.

“We are excited to have students use our collection to explore new curatorial ideas. The collection is a vital educational resource for VCU as well as for other museums and art institutions,” explains Amy Moorefield, Assistant Director and Curator of Collections of the VCUarts Anderson Gallery. The VCUarts Anderson Gallery is free and open to the public. Its summe hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 1- 5 pm. For more information about this exhibition or the Gallery, please call 804-828-1522, or visit our website at: www.vcu.edu/arts/gallery.


CONTACT: Anne Atkinson Blend Phone: 804-828-1845 E-mail: aratkinson@vcu.edu

Artist Unknown
Chinonueelu Uchechi Amobi
Deborah ArnettRobert Arneson
Matt Ballard
Bill Bamberger
I. Beckett
P.J. Beneduce
Edouard Boubat
Felix Henri Bracquemond
Chelsea Butrum
Chan Chow
Larry Clark
Chuck Close
Douglas Colie
Sandra Cornejo
Thomas A. Daniel
Diana M. Davis
DC Comics
Robert Doisneau
Elliot Erwitt
David Freed
Joan Gaustad
Nan Goldin
Sydney Goodman
Nancy Grossman
Richard Hamilton and Paul McCartney
Alex Harris
Cate Henry
Leslie Herman
Jonathan Hirsch
Mary Holland
Jerome Hopfer
Bradley W. Johnson
Buffie Johnson
Marion Junkin
John Kelly
Erika Koch
Jeff Lassahn
John Lennon
Micah Lexier
Adrien Lommelin
George Platt Lynes
Martson Hill Editions
Olan Mills
Layne Montgomery
Yasumasa Morimura
Robert Nantueil
Carla Nelms
William Old
Amie Oliver
G.S. Ovenden
Asam Parker
Marjorie Perrin
Photographer Unknown
Jack Pierson
N. Pitau
Theresa Pollak
Paul Pontius
Ruth Clide Proffitt
J, Protas
Larry Rivers
Alex Ritchie
Katie Robinson
Timothy D. Rusterholz
Alyssa C. Salomon
Jennifer Shephard
Cindy Sherman
Hunt Slonem
Pat Steir
David Tanner
Andre Thomkins
Dennis WInston
David Wurtzel


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