"Personal Identities: Contemporary Portraits" (PHOTOS)

"Personal Identities: Contemporary Portraits," curated by Michael Schwager for the University Art Gallery at Sonoma State University, hits the art exhibition trifecta. First, it proves that as long as Earth sustains human life, then sitters will furnish inspiration for portrait painters. Second, it shows that the genre is not only vibrant, pliable, and relevant, but that it can continue to contribute significantly to sociopolitical, economic, technological, philosophical, and, of course, humanistic discourses. And third, it shows that strong, interesting, and topical exhibitions can originate from a state-sponsored school, which, given the current budgetary climate, is no mean feat. Dissecting the intergenerational vigor of early 21st century portraiture, the work of these 28 artists will reacquaint viewers with such stalwarts as Chuck Close, Raymond Saunders, Francesco Clemente, Andy Warhol, Robert Arneson, Robert Bechtle, and Eric Fischl, and introduce a host of mid-career and relative newcomers. It's a visual feast that will get you to look at portraits, not to mention yourself, in entirely new ways.

Robert Arneson, "Golden Tongue," 1991

Robert Bechtle, "RB on De Haro Street," 2004

Mike Brodie, "Untitled," 2007

Chuck Close, "Self-Portrait," 1978

Eric Fischl, "Portrait of the Artist as an Old Man," 1984

Keith Hale, "Hard Look 11," 2007

Gabriel Klasmer, "From - Dream Girl Yona," 2009

Caitlin Mitchell-Dayton, "Dis-integration," 2003

Elizabeth Peyton, "Liam and Noel, Loch Lomond," 1997

Rigo 92, "Missile," 1992

John Sonsini, "Byron," 2009