About the Exhibition
As part of our ongoing From Our Collections series, Glenbow is pleased to present
Portraits, a selection of contemporary art from Glenbow’s collections that challenges the traditional definition of portraiture. The selected artworks explore the limits of the portrait, an age-old practice. Come discover how a portrait can depict more than just a person.
Photographs by Geoffrey James ascribe personality to a town through thoughtful representation, while the lush and highly textured paintings of Tony Scherman (from his series About 1865), present a portrait of history imbued by the very materials used to compose them – encaustic and cornmeal. Curious pictures by Loretta Lux, John Hall and Napoleon Brousseau illustrate some of the bold new interpretations of portraiture found in contemporary art today. Finally, on display is a
monumental self portrait by multimedia artist andfilmmaker Floria Sigismondi.
Learning
Learn about portraiture and self portraits with these activities set by the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Click here.
The Portrait Society of Canada helps to increase the public's understanding and appreciation of the art portrait in Canada. They even assist young Canadian artists studying portraiture with workshops, exhibitions, financial support and grants, etc. Click here to visit them.Media
Travis Reynolds of the Calgary Herald writes about portraits in: Personal Portraits: Glenbow exhibit focus on people, click here to read the article.
Beyond our walls
Tony Scherman's website, click here to visit.
Floria Sigismondi's site, at www.floriasigismondi.com.
Ascending Pleasures the art of John Hall, visit by clicking here.
Artist Geoffrey James site can be visited here.
Visit the Portrait Gallery of Canada via the Library and Archives of Canada and see works going back to the 1880's. Click here to see historical personalities important to Canada's development.
Further Reading
- Catalogue of an exhibition of artists' portraits by themselves and their friends: Watercolours by American artists : Little Pictures By Members Of The Ontario Society Of Artists. 1931. 1. Art Gallery Of Toronto/Ontario Society Of Artists
- Gitlitz, Michael. From Limner To Aesthete : Two Hundred Years Of Portrait And Figure Painting In America. 1997. Hirschl & Adler Galleries.
- Paikowsky, Sandra. Defining the portrait/Le sens du portrait. 2001. Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery.
- Portraits here's looking at you curriculum guide. 1989. Anchorage Museum of History and Art.
Top: Floria Sigismondi, Self-Portrait with Cat, 2001, Collection of Glenbow Museum
Bottom: Napoleon Brousseau,GaryMichael Dault, 2002, Collection of Glenbow Museum
