Betye Saar

In this self-portrait, symbols from palmistry, alchemy, and tarot take center stage while a representation of the artist peers from the lower right corner. Throughout her long career, Saar has incorporated elements of occult ritual into her collages, box assemblages, and installations.

Here, the shadows surrounding the floating elements make it difficult to discern which items were collaged and which were printed. A similar ambiguity plagues Saar’s appearance; by decentering her face, she de-emphasizes her own importance, leaving room for other more liberating interpretations. Saar writes, “The stars, the cards, the mystic vigil may hold the answers. By shifting the point of view an inner spirit is released. Free to create.”