Through every era, convention, and form, portraiture is built on the artist’s perception of both physical and emotional characteristics. To be perceived in this way is exceptionally vulnerable. The relationship between artist and subject influences the intimacy of seeing. A beloved matriarch, for example, might be depicted differently than a model for hire or a romantic interest. Through this relationship, the artist creates something tangible from something abstract.

Mimesis, or complete likeness, is not always the goal. The idea of someone (their spirit, their aura, their feel) is also desirable to impart. There is tension and ambiguity in this balance, but it is a necessary concoction.

when you’re in the mirror… is an offering of portraits that considers the repercussions of perception through a relational emphasis. Who is depicting whom? And why does that matter?

The title when you’re in the mirror… comes from a song on Charli xcx’s album “Brat.” Charli sings “when you’re in the mirror, do you like what you see? When you’re in the mirror, you’re just looking at me.” The duality of the lyric allows the listener to come to their own conclusions around what and who is drawing attention in the metaphorical mirror of introspection and relays into the colloquial use of “brat” as more than just an album: it’s a way of being. With its multi-layered approach, it could be argued that “Brat,” as both an album and a movement, is Charli’s own self-portrait.

Date:
February 13 - April 27, 2025

Hours:
Thursday - Sunday: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Location:
Minnesota Museum of American Art, 
Nancy and John Lindahl Gallery,
350 Robert Street North,
Saint Paul, MN 55101.

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