August 16 - December 1, 2024
From the Tyler Museum of Art:
“Organized by the Tyler Museum of Art, Forward Facing: A Look at Contemporary Portraiture highlights the work of four Texas-based artists currently pushing the boundaries of the traditional portrait genre. The selected artists offer their own unique takes on the ancient art form, examining contemporary issues and working with a variety of materials and techniques.
The themes of family and labor run deep throughout the work of Raul Rene Gonzalez (San Antonio). In addition to capturing his own personal moments, Gonzalez presents glimpses into the lives of other working artists and their families, highlighting the balancing act of career and caregiving.
Guadalupe Hernandez (Houston) also delves into the topics of family and labor. Often paying homage to kin, Hernandez employs a paper cutting technique inspired by the Mexican folk art of Papel Picado to honor his subjects.
The work of Delita Martin (Huffman) focuses on the representation and portrayal of Black women. Often working with a myriad of materials, she visually explores the interconnectedness between past and present generations as well as the physical and spiritual.
After interviewing and photographing her models, Yasuyo Maruyama (Wichita Falls) paints her subjects in an ethereal light. Straying from straightforward photorealistic depictions, Maruyama preserves her overall impression of a sitter through aesthetic choices such as color selection and perspective.
The different approaches spotlight the individual nature of each artist and their portrayed sitters. Yet, grouped together, the works contribute to the longstanding portrait genre and collectively celebrate the beauty of the human race.”
1300 S Mahon Avenue
Tyler, 75701 TX
903-595-1001
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