SELF PORTRAITURE

The Self Portraiture, October 2020, issue explores the powerful tradition of self-representation through the work of 38 emerging and early-career artists. This issue showcases how contemporary artists use self-portraiture to interrogate identity, reflect on societal constructs, and push creative boundaries.

Through photography, painting, mixed media, and more, these artists reinterpret the self-portrait to connect personal introspection with collective cultural narratives. The issue also features five interviews with Paulina Kim Joo, Darius Churchman, William Camargo, Aghogho Otega, and Salma Olama, offering a behind-the-scenes look at their creative processes and reflections on the evolving role of self-portraiture.

From historical roots—such as the implicit cultural reflections in Joshua Johnson's works—to modern innovations like Omar Victor Diop’s diasporic commentaries, this issue examines the self-portrait as a vital and transformative art form. In a world increasingly shaped by digital technology and virtual realities, these works remind us of the enduring power of self-representation to bridge the personal and the universal.