English

Visit the Exhibition

“Portraiture Now: Staging the Self” features the work of David Antonio Cruz, Carlee Fernandez, María Martínez-Cañas, Rachelle Mozman, Karen Miranda Rivadeneira, and Michael Vasquez, all artists of Latino background, who make us aware of how identities are constructed and negotiated via portraiture. Seeking to relieve portraiture of its charge to memorialize individuals and convey essential aspects of their identities, they use it instead to explore the ambiguities and changes in individual character. Theatricality is central to their inquiry, as they represent narratives remembered or imagined from their own family histories, or superimpose portraits of their loved ones over themselves, looking for what is shared or unique in individuality, searching like an actor for a character. As they present themselves in a staged manner, portraiture loses its aura of certainty, and becomes an evolving map for finding oneself and others.

This exhibition team is led by curator of Latino art and history Taína Caragol and includes chief curator Brandon Fortune, associate director of education Rebecca Kasemeyer, associate curator of painting and sculpture Dorothy Moss and senior historian David C. Ward. “Portraiture Now: Staging the Self” is organized by the National Portrait Gallery in collaboration with the Smithsonian Latino Center.

The exhibition has additional portraits not included in this website; it was on view at the National Portrait Gallery from August 22, 2014 through April 12, 2015. The exhibition tour includes the Americas Society in New York City, June 10, 2015 through October 17, 2015; and the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 6, 2015 through March 27, 2016.

“Portraiture Now: Staging the Self” has been made possible through the federal support of the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center; the Stoneridge Fund of Amy and Marc Meadows; Univision Communications, Inc; and the Rebecca Houser Westcott Fund for “Portraiture Now.”


The National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, tells the stories of America through the individuals who have shaped U.S. culture. Through the visual arts, performing arts, and new media, the Portrait Gallery portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists who speak American history.

Location: The National Portrait Gallery is conveniently located at Eighth and F Streets, NW, in Washington D.C., above the Gallery Place–Chinatown Metrorail station (red, yellow, and green lines).

Museum Hours: 11:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. daily. Closed December 25.

Admission: FREE

For more information on visiting the museum, please visit the National Portrait Gallery's website.

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Visite la exposición

El equipo de esta exposición está liderado por Taína Caragol, curadora de historia y arte latinos e incluye a Brandon Fortune, curadora principal; Rebecca Kasemeyer, directora asociada de educación; Dorothy Moss, curadora asociada de pintura y escultura; y David C. Ward, historiador principal. “El retrato ahora: ponerse en imagen” es presentado por la Galería Nacional de Retratos en colaboración con el Centro Latino Smithsonian. La Galería Nacional de Retratos tiene el compromiso de ampliar la noción del retrato de su público a través de sus programas, incluida la serie de exposiciones en curso “El retrato ahora,” que explora artistas contemporáneos renovadores de la tradición del arte figurativo.


La Galería Nacional de Retratos

La Galería Nacional de Retratos del Smithsonian narra la historia de los Estados Unidos a través de retratos de individuos que han definido su cultura. Por medio de las artes visuales, las artes escénicas y los nuevos medios, la Galería Nacional de Retratos presenta a poetas y presidentes, visionarios y villanos, actores y activistas cuyas vidas relatan la historia estadounidense. La Galería Nacional de Retratos es parte del Centro Donald W. Reynolds de Arte y Retratos Americanos que se encuentra en las calles Octava y F N.W., Washington, D.C. en la estación Gallery Place/Chinatown (líneas roja, amarilla y verde).

Horario abierto diariamente de 11:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.Cerrado el 25 de diciembre

Entrada: GRATIS

Para más información sobre el museo, por favor visite la página web de la Galería Nacional de Retratos.

Visit the Exhibition

“Portraiture Now: Staging the Self” features the work of David Antonio Cruz, Carlee Fernandez, María Martínez-Cañas, Rachelle Mozman, Karen Miranda Rivadeneira, and Michael Vasquez, all artists of Latino background, who make us aware of how identities are constructed and negotiated via portraiture. Seeking to relieve portraiture of its charge to memorialize individuals and convey essential aspects of their identities, they use it instead to explore the ambiguities and changes in individual character. Theatricality is central to their inquiry, as they represent narratives remembered or imagined from their own family histories, or superimpose portraits of their loved ones over themselves, looking for what is shared or unique in individuality, searching like an actor for a character. As they present themselves in a staged manner, portraiture loses its aura of certainty, and becomes an evolving map for finding oneself and others.

This exhibition team is led by curator of Latino art and history Taína Caragol and includes chief curator Brandon Fortune, associate director of education Rebecca Kasemeyer, associate curator of painting and sculpture Dorothy Moss and senior historian David C. Ward. “Portraiture Now: Staging the Self” is organized by the National Portrait Gallery in collaboration with the Smithsonian Latino Center.

The exhibition has additional portraits not included in this website; it was on view at the National Portrait Gallery from August 22, 2014 through April 12, 2015. The exhibition tour includes the Americas Society in New York City, June 10, 2015 through October 17, 2015; and the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 6, 2015 through March 27, 2016.

“Portraiture Now: Staging the Self” has been made possible through the federal support of the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center; the Stoneridge Fund of Amy and Marc Meadows; Univision Communications, Inc; and the Rebecca Houser Westcott Fund for “Portraiture Now.”


The National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, tells the stories of America through the individuals who have shaped U.S. culture. Through the visual arts, performing arts, and new media, the Portrait Gallery portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists who speak American history.

Location: The National Portrait Gallery is conveniently located at Eighth and F Streets, NW, in Washington D.C., above the Gallery Place–Chinatown Metrorail station (red, yellow, and green lines).

Museum Hours: 11:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. daily. Closed December 25.

Admission: FREE

For more information on visiting the museum, please visit the National Portrait Gallery's website.

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

August 22, 2014 through April 12, 2015

Americas Society, New York City

June 10, 2015 through October 18, 2015

National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico

November 6, 2015 through March 27, 2016.