Seeing Each Other: Portraits in Time and Place, opened last month at the Northern Illinois University Art Museum Galleries. The exhibition presents captivating portraiture offering personal insights that expose personality, emotion and even character.
The twenty-three exhibiting artists were selected from submissions to a national call, and by invitation. The work ranges from conceptual to hyperrealism, producing an intriguing variety of thought-provoking imagery.
Danielle Piloto’s image titled New World King created in 2024 is from an ongoing body of work titled “The Hats We Wear.” Piloto writes... “With each painting, the subject wears a hat tied to a narrative. For example, New World King is my personal perspective on leaders in the world. It addresses my growing inability to take them seriously. The “King” wears a crown made of paper (origami). He’s looking at the ball of tinfoil, which represents the world.”
Danielle Piloto, New World King, 2024, oil painting (center image)
The hyperrealist painting technique utilized in New World King is visually arresting, capturing every minute detail with precision. Yet, it’s the incorporation of metaphorical elements that elevates the work, transforming it into a visual puzzle that invites deeper interpretation. This layered meaning challenges the viewer to look beyond the surface, inspiring intellectual engagement and offering a subtle commentary on power, society, and human nature.
Heather Green, CeCe McDonald, 2015, Oil on Panel
Heather Green’s CeCe McDonald created in 2015, depicts a mugshot of a transgendered woman who was arrested in 2011 for defending herself against a violent attacker.
Green shares the story in the adjacent description card... “Shortly after the confrontation, she was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, regardless of the serious injuries she sustained and her story outlining a lawful self-defense. With the possibility of a 20-year prison term looming, she felt compelled to accept a plea deal rather than gambling on the outcome of a jury trial.” The story continues... “Despite being targeted of a hate crime, Ms. McDonald accepted the plea for second-degree manslaughter and received a 41-month prison term. She served 19 months in two men’s prisons before her early release in 2014. Her case has received national attention, and she continues to work as an advocate for LGBTQ rights.”
With bold, expressive brushstrokes and an achromatic color palette, Green creates a striking image that exposes the deep emotions of sadness and anger. The artwork confronts the viewer with the raw, visceral response to a prejudicial social system rooted in bigotry and discrimination. The absence of color heightens the emotional intensity, allowing the viewer to focus on the depth of the subject’s pain and frustration. Green’s composition becomes a visual outcry, challenging societal norms and exposing the injustice that fuels these powerful emotions.
The portraits included in the exhibition go beyond capturing mere representation—portraying not only the subject’s outward appearance but also their personality, soul, and essence—sometimes incorporating metaphorical elements, symbols, or subtle visual cues that hint at a deeper narrative. These evoke a sense of intimacy, creating a connection between the viewer and the subject that surpasses the physical likeness.
Exhibition Entry - (right) Charles Gniech, From Darkness, 2003 acrylic on canvas
Seeing Each Other: Portraits in Time and Place, continues at The Northern Illinois University Art Museum Galleries through October 19, 2024. The Northern Illinois University Art Museum is located on the first floor of Altgeld Hall, 595 College Ave. DeKalb, IL 60115. Museum hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Thursday Noon - 7 p.m.; Sunday Noon - 4 p.m. Visit the website for related events during the run of the exhibition. https://calendar.niu.edu/art_museum
Seeing Each Other: Portraits in Time and Place, was curated by Peter Olsen, Assistant Director, Northern Illinois University Art Museum
