About Face: Contemporary Portrait Painting in Australia and New Zealand

(Hardback)

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From the Australian Book Industry-Award winning author of Australian Abstract.

'Containing a sublime collection of works, Amber Creswell Bell's book is a deeply fascinating insight into Antipodean portraiture.' - DAVID WENHAM

Since the advent of the camera nearly two centuries ago, a portrait is no longer expected to be an exact likeness. From surrealist renderings to abstract interpretations, contemporary artists have shed the convention of traditional portraiture, experimenting with an array of styles to convey the personality and character of their subjects.

In About Face, Amber Creswell Bell examines the practices of a diverse canvas of portrait painters in Australia and New Zealand. The dynamic nature of both the artists and their work reflects an evolution of culture, society and creative practice. These painters use portraiture to convey a narrative, engage with social, political or environmental issues or evoke the complexity of the human experience; some are simply fascinated by human faces.

Whatever the artist's motivation, every work makes clear that portraiture has always been a powerful means of telling stories and exploring our individual and collective identities.

Author Bio

Amber Creswell Bell is a Sydney-based arts, design and lifestyle writer, and curator. With a passion for art, Amber champions emerging and unrepresented artists, curating exhibitions both independently and in collaboration with well-established commercial galleries. She is currently the Director of Emerging Art for Michael Reid galleries. Amber's book Australian Abstract (2023) was awarded the Australian Book Industry Award for Illustrated Book of the Year. About Face is Amber's sixth book with Thames & Hudson.