Represent: Exploring Portraits from RAM’s Collection

January 20 – September 1, 2019

Kierston Ghaznavi
Mother and Child Reunion, 2018
Pen, marker, cardstock, glue, metal brads, and twine
7 x 7 inches
Courtesy of the Artist
Photography: Jon Bolton

This exhibition features pieces that embrace the idea of a portrait as an investigation of character and situation, tangible details, and abstract elements. From self-portraits to works that encapsulate the essence of a subject through metaphor or emotion, these works encourage contemplation about how human beings understand one another as well as the world around them. At a time when selfies and casual “snaps,” are ever more present and popular, it is interesting to consider what it means to explore and understand the self and others through two and three-dimensional representations.

Featured Artist

On view now is a small selection of the work of Milwaukee-based artist Kierston Ghaznavi. She creates articulated paper dolls that represent, in her own works, “black pop culture, afro-centric natural hair, positive imagery of black women, self-love and awareness.” She translates her childhood interest in playing with dolls and drawing characters from her imagination into an exploration of identity, realized through anonymous subjects or personal friends. With a process that takes anywhere from three to eight hours per piece, Ghaznavi draws subjects with pen, markers, or ink wash and transforms them into dolls with moveable limbs that range from seven to 24 inches tall.

More About the Exhibition

Exhibition Notes (PDF)

Shop the Exhibition

Press Room

Artists in the Exhibition

Ann Agee, Wesley Anderegg, Jeannette Montgomery Barron, Norman Bergsma, Mary Bero, Carol Blanchard, Frank Boyden, Gibson Byrd, John Cederquist, David Chatt, Francesco Clemente, Van Deren Coke, Warrington Colescott, George Condo, Cristina Córdova, Claire Curneen, Dan Dailey, Baron Adolph De Meyer, Arnold Eagle, Jack Earl, Robert W. Ebendorf, Edward S. Eberle, Elise Engler, Susan Evans, Laszlo Fekete, Kierston Ghaznavi, Danielle Gori-Montanelli, Ruth Anne Grove, Philippe Halsman, Andrew Herman, David Hockney, W. Stephan Hodder, Laurie Hogin, David V. Holmes, Coille Mclaughlin Hooven, Judith Hoyt, Marvin Israel, Sergei Isupov, Sylvester Jerry, Enid Kaplan, Kenneth A. Kerslake, Esther Knobel, George Krause, John Krewal, Marie Laurencin, Peter Lenzo, Michael Lucero, Kurt Markus, Joseph Martin, Paul Matzner, Richard Meitner, Linda Schwam Merkel, Odd Nerdrum, Jim Nutt, Karl J. Priebe, Claire Prussian, Clifford Rainey, Minna Resnick, David A. Robbins, Leslie Roth, Bonnie Schiffman, Esther Shimazu, Kim Simonsson, Paul Smith, Louis Stettner, Cynthia Toops, Beth Van Hoesen, Charles Von Urban, Claire Van Vliet, Janusz Walentynowicz, John Wilde, Katharine Wood, and Irina Zaytceva