New York Academy of Art

In this course, students will explore the tradition of self-portraiture from a contemporary perspective. Students will learn how artists have depicted the self throughout history and be exposed to contemporary artists who work auto-biographically. Students will gain technical skills while expanding their understanding of symbolism and identity. The course will culminate in a conceptual self-portrait that students will develop independently with the guidance of the instructor. Through art history, traditional drawing and painting methods and experimental compositions, students will come to understand the myriad ways that they can represent the self in art.