
Didier William, Gwo Tet, 2021. Acrylic, collage, ink, and wood carving on panel. 50 × 64 × 2 1/8 inches (127 × 162.6 × 5.4 cm). Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston. Gift of Mathieu O. Gaulin. C…
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Didier William, Gwo Tet, 2021. Acrylic, collage, ink, and wood carving on panel. 50 × 64 × 2 1/8 inches (127 × 162.6 × 5.4 cm). Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston. Gift of Mathieu O. Gaulin. C…
View full creditsAliza Nisenbaum, Susanna Paints, 2022. Oil on canvas. 63 × 57 × 1 1/4 inches (160 × 144.8 × 3.2 cm). Institute of Contempo…
View full creditsRania Matar, Samira, Jnah, Beirut, Lebanon, 2021. Archival pigment print, 28 13/16 × 36 inches (73.2 × 91.4 cm). Acquired through the generosity of Michelle Morphew © Rania Matar
Installation view, Portraits from the ICA Collection, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, 2025–26. Photo by Mel Taing.
Installation view, Portraits from the ICA Collection, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, 2025–26. Photo by Mel Taing.
Didier William, Gwo Tet, 2021. Acrylic, collage, ink, and wood carving on panel. 50 × 64 × 2 1/8 inches (127 × 162.6 × 5.4 cm). Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston. Gift of Mathieu O. Gaulin. Courtesy the artist and Altman Siegel, San Francisco © Didier William
Aliza Nisenbaum, Susanna Paints, 2022. Oil on canvas. 63 × 57 × 1 1/4 inches (160 × 144.8 × 3.2 cm). Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston. Gift of Glenn and Amanda Fuhrman. © Aliza Nisenbaum
Rania Matar, Samira, Jnah, Beirut, Lebanon, 2021. Archival pigment print, 28 13/16 × 36 inches (73.2 × 91.4 cm). Acquired through the generosity of Michelle Morphew © Rania Matar
Installation view, Portraits from the ICA Collection, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, 2025–26. Photo by Mel Taing.
This exhibition showcases the deep holdings of portraits in various forms of media within the ICA Collection, exploring how artists create images of themselves and others to communicate the emotions, politics, and beauty of representation. Portraits offer both artists and sitters a means to convey personal and lived experiences and, through this, an opportunity for viewers to reflect on themselves. Unlike more historical portraits, which often celebrated the aristocracy and those in power, contemporary portraiture explores a broader and more inclusive range of people and identities. This selection of almost thirty works reflects the richness of today’s diverse narratives and reminders of our shared humanity.
Portraits from the ICA Collection is organized by Erika Umali, Curator of Collections.
This exhibition is funded, in part, with support from Leadership in Arts Museums, an initiative to create more racial equity in art museum leadership, supported by the Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Pilot House Philanthropy, and Alice L. Walton Foundation.
Additional support is generously provided by The Sandra and Gerald Fineberg Exhibition Fund.