Kota Ezawa at Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU

June 22, 2018

Kota Ezawa is included in the exhibition, Person(a): Portraiture from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU. The exhibition assembles a captivating selection of contemporary portraiture offering new perspectives on one of art’s oldest genres. Artists and their viewership have long been fascinated by portraiture’s potential to connect us to a loved one, an enthralling personality, or a notable figure. Beyond creating ‘likeness,' artists are challenged to see past a subject’s outward appearance to unveil something less tangible, a deeper psychology. Works included in this exhibition propose varied and often unconventional ways of representing an individual, spanning portrayals steeped in intimacy to highly manipulated and mediated visages.

Intrinsically dovetailed to cultural recognition and commemoration, portraiture has been historically incomplete in fully representing the breadth of  humanity—always at stake within the genre is who has been represented and by whom. This exhibition seeks a far-reaching, inclusive array of art and artist, emphasizing less-recognized—and marginalized—members of society.

Highlighting over twenty artists including foundational, preeminent figures of 20th and 21st centuries, such as Kiki Smith, and Andy Warhol, as well as mid-career voices from the contemporary scene including Lalla Essaydi, Kota Ezawa, Glenn Ligon and Mickalene Thomas, Person(a) demonstrates the genre’s continued creative force and cultural resonance.  Drawn from the vast collections of Jordan Schnitzer and His Family Foundation the featured works testifies to Mr. Schnitzer’s passion for art of broad perspective and stimulating thought.

Person(a) is on view through August 4.