likeness

Likeness: Portraits of Artists by Other Artists
August 30 - October 30, 2005

Likeness: Portraits of Artists by Other Artists is the first exhibition to consider a recent history of artists’ representations of other artists—whether peers, colleagues, or idols. Unlike the introspective quality of self-portraiture, an artist’s portrayal of another artist creates a new dynamic as it knits the identity of both the artist and the sitter into the work. The 60 portraits in Likeness offer a behind-the-scenes look at intimate social and intellectual connections of the art world. Co-curator of the exhibition Matthew Higgs wrote: “The portrait exists as both a document—an evidential artifact—and a highly subjective, often ambiguous record of the relationship between artists and their subjects.” In a range of mediums, indelible identities are revealed.

The exhibition was co-organized by the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts and Independent Curators International (ICI), and curated by Matthew Higgs, Director of White Columns in New York. The exhibition is accompanied by a 72-page catalogue with 38 illustrations, and includes essays by curator Matthew Higgs, artists David Robbins and San Francisco writer Kevin Killian. The catalogue was co-published by CCA Wattis Institute and Independent Curators International.

Artists in the exhibition: Matthew Antezzo, Roy Arden, David Armstrong, AA Bronson, Edgar Bryan, Heather Cantrell, Chuck Close, Anne Collier, Sam Durant, Nan Goldin, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Richard Hamilton, Peter Hujar, Deborah Kass, Mike Kelley, Richard Kern, Bruce LaBruce, Sean Landers, Robert Mapplethorpe, Jonathan Meese, Richard Misrach, Dave Muller, Paul Noble, Julian Opie, Elizabeth Peyton, Richard Prince, David Robbins, Wolfgang Tillmans, James Welling, and Neil Winokur.

Image Credit: Heather Cantrell, Singing Sirens (Mary Kelly), 2002, Chromogenic print, 20 x 24 in. Courtesy of the artist.