Chuck Close:
Face Forward

Exhibition Statement

Chuck Close, one of the most influential artists of our time, earned his reputation by reinventing portraiture. He developed his signature style in the late 1960s when he painted his first self-portrait enlarged to a monumental scale. Since then, he has explored various methods and techniques for depicting the human face. Never content to remain within a predictable style, he has continuously questioned the nature of representation by devising bold new ways of rendering his subjects.

His zeal for experimentation led him to make his first print in 1972. Since that time, he has rigorously explored a full array of printmaking mediums. Prints have become a key part of his creative process. Close once said: “Virtually everything that has happened in my unique work can be traced back to the prints.” This exhibition features over 70 works offering a rich survey of his involvement with printmaking, ranging from traditional techniques (etchings, woodcuts, and lithographs) to more unusual materials (tapestry and paper pulp}.

Close begins with a gridded photograph of a person he knows intimately. This exhibition features works depicting close friends such as the contemporary composer Phillip Glass, family members, and fellow artists such as Alex Katz and John Chamberlain, as well as his ubiquitous self-portraits. He renders his subjects using a variety of marks that range from precise photorealism to free-form expressionism. His desire to push his medium to its limits results in boldly dynamic and unforgettable images that make Chuck Close one of America’s most important living artists.

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