Roger Shimomura

These portraits by Alice Neel and Roger Shimomura employ very different approaches.

Using bold brushstrokes and deliberately leaving sections of the canvas unpainted, Neel

creates a directness and sense of emotional connection with her portrayal of the artist

Nancy Selvage. Shimomura, in contrast, depicts himself as a cartoonish caricature of a Japanese warrior. Working in vibrant colors and adding accessories such as a sword and wig, he raises issues of racist stereotypes.

–Wai Yee Chiong, curator of Asian art