U-turn, features the works of Ryan Bradley, Brian Farrell, Karl Glave, Jason Grünwald, Doug Henders, Nina Montezinos, Mickey Sumner, and Gavin Wilson. Each artist’s work exemplifies the reversed perspective in modern portraiture, from that of the sitter to the artist himself. In essence, the canvas serves as the artist’s mirror. It is a metaphysical sense of the individual, with a stronger reflection of the artist. As a whole, U-turn explores the new face of modern portraiture as a complex relationship between the artist, sitter, and viewer.

A portrait leaves a legacy, conveying an individual’s state of being. Historically, this legacy was a physical reflection of the sitter. In Brian Farrell’s work, the individual is represented as an aura of human qualities. His take on the individual, both the seen and unseen, comprehensively combine to produce a modern portrait. Jason Grunwald paints with a strong connection to his quotidien, accumulating his experiences into one image. No longer is portraiture strictly a means by which the artist performs as a camera. A range of social, cultural and personal issues are at the forefront in this process. The works in U-turn offer the interpretation of the artist, exemplifying modern portraiture as a liberating form of expression.