As humans, we are subject to the perception of others at any moment. And yet, what they see—our physical, outward appearance—is not synonymous with our identity. We are more than our faces, our bodies, and the clothes we wear. We are the sum of our lived experience. The artists whose work is exhibited in Make My Presence Known challenge notions of identity as visible by using sculptures that both interrogate and celebrate the unseen self.
Artists Magdalena Abakanowicz, Nick Cave, and Alison Saar are each represented in the show by a single, dynamic figurative sculpture. Working from deeply personal perspectives, the artists employ everyday objects and materials recognizable to many. With wood, beads, canvas, bottles, and even ceramic bird figurines, their artworks collectively underscore the complexity and diversity of lived experience. We invite you to make your presence known in the gallery by engaging with these sculptures and finding your points of intersection with the stories they offer and the content they engage.
This exhibition is curated by Angelica Henry ’22, with support from Dr. Emily Stamey, curator and head of exhibitions.
