25 Sq. inches The Faces of the Permanent Collection

As one of the most scrutinized and depicted subjects, the human face is perhaps the most important theme in the history of art. The face has perpetually captivated and inspired artists and artisans. From ancient Egypt to the Renaissance, from photography to Pop Art, man’s fascination with the face is eternal.

Throughout history, portrayals of the face have served as powerful tools, both as art and on material objects, such as currency, stamps, and consumer goods. Artists have employed the face as artistic self-exploration, technical experimentation, and as a way to self-consciously explore issues of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and identity. Portrayals are not only concerned with likeness as contained in a person’s physical features, they have also served multiple functions including political and societal, spiritual and religious, propagandistic and aesthetic. The face has been used to advance careers, bolster social standing and to mock the status quo.

Drawn from the permanent collection of the Frost Art Museum, the works included in 25 sq. inches encompass a wide temporal and geographical range. The intent here is to focus on the face and to show how, through the use of paintings, prints, photography, and sculpture, different artists approach the process of depicting the face.

Considered collectively and presented in a variety of narrative contexts, juxtapositions, and associations, certain thematic threads emerge with the intent of providing a provocative and engaging forum for the viewer to reconsider the role of the face not only in the art historical narrative, but also in a contemporary one.