Eye of the Beholder

An Artsy exclusive show from MiXX projects + atelier, Eye of the Beholder features four of our favorite portrait artists whose subjects engage with the viewer in very different ways. We welcome you to explore how each artist’s treatment of the portrait effects the way you interact with their work.

Though formally very different, the female subjects in Marco Grassi and Rebecca McFarland’s paintings share a boldness in their gaze. They are open books, often meeting the viewer’s eye in a direct stare. They unflinchingly invite us into their stories, their motives, and their womanhood. In stark contrast, Janos Huszti rarely allows us to look his subjects in the eye. The women in his atmospheric, monochrome portraits are purposefully obscured, leaving us to wonder through what moment in time they are passing. In the tradition of Roy Lichtenstein’s iconic pop art paintings (and the comic book art that inspired them), Mitch McGee’s layered birch paintings are almost voyeuristic, allowing us to peek into the subjects’ inner lives through subtle glances and private moments.