227 State St
Madison, Wisconsin 53703

The notion of the "self," the essential quality that makes a person distinct from all others, is a core theme in modern and contemporary art. Its primary formats are the portrait and self-portrait, which focus on the identity and psychology of the model. For the artist, the true self is fluid, not fixed; layered, not clearly evident. The true self is both innate and determined by experience and culture. Never consistent, it is often self-contradictory. 'True Self: The Search for Identity in Modern and Contemporary Art' explores the ways artists have understood and conveyed the essence of the self--through facial expression, body language, dress, and the particulars of setting--in a selection of paintings, sculpture, prints, and photographs. Drawn from MMoCA's permanent collection, the exhibition lists a broad range of artists, including Thomas Hart Benton, Sonja Clark, Chuck Close, John Coplans, Kathe Kollwitz, Alfred Leslie, Diego Rivera, Cindy Sherman, Hollis Sigler, Raphael Soyer, and Ida Wyman.

Added by Upcoming Robot on September 12, 2010