Identify pulls back the curtain of time to acknowledge those who are missing from the museum’s historical collections. Wealth, class, race, and gender often determined who could have a portrait made in the 18th and 19th centuries – this performance art series strives to make visible the invisible. Each artist selected critiques American portraiture and institutional history by making visible a body or bodies that historically have been forgotten. Dorothy Moss, associate curator of painting and sculpture, is the curator of Identify.
The Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition invited artists from across the country to submit their best works in the art of portrayal. The dazzling variety of media and diverse approaches to the exploration of "self" and "other" challenge preconceived notions of portraiture and expand visitors’ imaginations. This competition and resulting exhibition, will showcase excellence and innovation with a strong focus on the variety of portrait media used by artists today. The juried competition results in an exhibition of about 50 finalists, with the prizewinners announced at the opening. The winner will receive a grand prize of $25,000 and an opportunity to create a portrait for the Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection. A fully illustrated publication will accompany the exhibition. The competition is named for Virginia Outwin Boochever (1920–2005), a former Portrait Gallery volunteer whose generous gift has endowed this program. Dorothy Moss, associate curator of painting and sculpture, is the competition director and curator of the exhibition.
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Hollywood and Time: Celebrity Covers
April 1, 2016 through Oct. 2, 2016
This show presents a selection of original cover art commissioned by Time magazine highlighting Hollywood personalities who once graced theatre marquees across America. Included are vintage portraits and photographs of stars and starlets like Dustin Hoffman, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, Diane Keaton, Meryl Streep; and Oscar winning directors Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen. The show focuses on thirty-two celebrities whose vision and talents carried us to different eras and exotic places. Today their Time covers can conger fond memories of a favorite movie experience.
James Barber, historian, is the curator of the Time collection and this show.


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