On Self-Portraits > View a sampling of how more than 75 American artists have chosen to portray themselves over the past 120 years.
Self-Portraits: When Artists Depict Themselves
BY MAX GILLIES
Self-portraits are very much on our collective minds these days. First, there’s the matter of selfies. Thanks to the extraordinarily good cameras built into most smartphones, almost anyone can take a decent photograph of themselves. Most of the resulting images are not great art, so what makes the self-portrait of a professional artist that much better?
This question, among others, was addressed at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery in its 2019 exhibition “Eye to I: Self-Portraits from 1900 to Today.” This is a sampling (as seen in Fine Art Connoisseur magazine) of how more than 75 American artists have chosen to portray themselves over the past 120 years.
On offer here is an array of self-portraits painted, sculpted, and drawn by artists who live throughout North America. We are delighted by what they see in the mirror, and we encourage them to keep looking there in the years ahead, much as Rembrandt and Van Gogh did throughout their careers.
1. Krystal W. Brown
KRYSTAL W. BROWN (b. 1968), “Guardian (When She Realized),” 2018, oil on paper mounted on panel, 11 x 16 in., collection of the artist
2. Aleah Chapin
ALEAH CHAPIN (b. 1986), “Listening in the Dark,” 2018, oil on panel, 24 x 36 in.
3. Tanja Gant
TANJA GANT (b. 1972), “Ego Sum,” 2015, graphite on paper, 8 x 11 in., collection of the artist
4. Matthew James Collins
MATTHEW JAMES COLLINS (b. 1970), “Self-Portrait,” 2012, plaster, 3/4 life-size, collection of the artist
5. Michael Bergt
MICHAEL BERGT (b. 1956), “Self-Portrait,” 2003, egg tempera on panel, 14 x 11 in., private collection
6. Felicia Forte
FELICIA FORTE (b. 1979), “Self-Portrait, Evening,” 2016, oil on paper, 16 x 12 in., private collection
7. Gerald J. Fritzler
GERALD J. FRITZLER (b. 1953), “Fritz,” 2012, watercolor on board, 19 x 14 in., collection of the artist
8. Arthur Haywood
ARTHUR HAYWOOD (b. 1990), “I Will Be Brave,” 2015, oil on linen, 10 x 8 3/4 in., available from the artist
9. Anna Rose Bain
ANNA ROSE BAIN (b. 1985), “Silent Snowfall,” 2017, oil on linen, 36 x 30 in., available from the artist
10. Kamille Corry
KAMILLE CORRY (b. 1966), “Self Portrait — Winter,” 2014, charcoal, charcoal pencil, and gold pigment on paper, 26 x 18 in., private collection
11. David Jon Kassan
DAVID JON KASSAN (b. 1977), “Self-Portrait,” 2014–15, charcoal on paper, 16 x 12 in., available from the artist
12. Todd Baxter
TODD BAXTER (b. 1954), “Todd,” 2017, pencil on paper, 23 x 19 1/2 in., available from the artist
13. Karen Ann Hitt
KAREN ANN HITT (b. 1960), “It’s Personal,” 2015, conté crayon and pastel on paper, 13 x 11 in., collection of the artist
14. Matthew Bird
MATTHEW BIRD (b. 1977), “A Work in Progress,” 2018, watercolor on paper on aluminum panel, 20 x 16 in., available from the artist
15. Ellen Starr Lyon
ELLEN STARR LYON (b. 1974), “Lost in Thought,” 2018, oil on board, 8 x 8 in., Abend Gallery, Denver
16. Jeffrey T. Larson
JEFFREY T. LARSON (b. 1962), “Self-Portrait,” 2014, oil on canvas, 24 x 24 in., collection of the artist
17. Jim McVicker
JIM MCVICKER (b. 1951), “Laughing Self,” 2012, oil on canvas, 36 x 36 in., collection of the artist
18. Jill Banks
JILL BANKS (b. 1958), “Randy and Me,” 2007, oil on linen, 30 x 40 in., available from the artist
19. Linda Harris Reynolds
LINDA HARRIS REYNOLDS (b. 1957), “Unrecognizable to Myself (Self Altered Study),” 2018, pencil on paper, 8 x 5 in., available from the artist
20. Lorena Selim
LORENA SELIM (b. 1952), “Self-Portrait Vanitas,” 2016, oil on aluminum panel, 22 x 13 in., collection of the artist
21. Duffy Sheridan
DUFFY SHERIDAN (b. 1947), “Self-Portrait,” 2009, oil on linen, 32 x 30 in., Marshall Gallery of Fine Art, Scottsdale
22. Mary Sauer
MARY SAUER (b. 1986), “Expectations,” 2014, oil on canvas, 60 x 48 in., available from the artist
23. Zack Zdrale
ZACK ZDRALE (b. 1977), “Self-Portrait 4/09,” 2009, oil on canvas, 12 x 9 in., private collection
24. Radek Vizina
RADEK VIZINA (b. 1978), “Effigy,” 2015, oil on panel, 12 in. (diameter), Westland Gallery, London, Ontario
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Every portrait was OUTSTANDING!!
What a great show of portrait creativity and style, fantastic!