Skip to main content
Thumbnail for About face : contemporary portrait painting in Australia and New Zealand
New!

About face : contemporary portrait painting in Australia and New Zealand

Bell, Amber Creswell2024
Books, Manuscripts
Since the advent of the camera nearly two centuries ago, a portrait is no longer expected to be an exact likeness. From surrealist renderings to abstract interpretations, contemporary artists have shed the convention of traditional portraiture, experimenting with an array of styles to convey the personality and character of their subjects. In About Face, Amber Creswell Bell examines the practices of a diverse canvas of portrait painters in Australia and New Zealand. The dynamic nature of both the artists and their work reflects an evolution of culture, society and creative practice. These painters use portraiture to convey a narrative, engage with social, political or environmental issues or evoke the complexity of the human experience; some are simply fascinated by human faces. Whatever the artist's motivation, every work makes clear that portraiture has always been a powerful means of telling stories and exploring our individual and collective identities.
LocationCollectionCall numberStatus/Desc
PenrithNonfiction757.094 ABOAvailable
View my active saved list
0 items in my active saved list