Face It: A Portrait Show
From the Collection of Paul Paletti
One of the classic forms of art, portraits have been vital for millennia. In fact, it has been estimated that about 60% of all paintings in Western art are portraits. Not only do they show us how someone looked, they also show us how they lived and the most successful portraits go beyond that and don’t just show what the person looked like, they capture their individuality in a way that reveals something of the inner self. For example, in Yousef Karsch’s portrait we see Winston Churchill’s dogged toughness, in Steve McCurry’s “Afghan Girl” we see her feral beauty, but also her anxiety. All photography stops time but portraits invite us to connect with the subject who was or is a living, breathing, human being, just like us.
Taken from the Paul Paletti collection (now numbering almost 2000 pieces) and curated by Gallery Assistant Sam Miller, this show highlights some classics and old favorites-David Turnley’s dignified Mandela, Ann Noggle’s joyful self portraits-but also brings to light some hidden gems that have not been featured in a show before. “I tried to feature the faces from the collection I can’t forget, the ones I never tire of looking at.”
“Face It” will run April – June. A reception to celebrate these faces will take place on Friday, April 17 from 5-8pm as a part of NULU Nights.
April 17 – June 30, 2026
