Who's There?
Exhibition Dates: September 30, 2025-January 17, 2026.
Featured Artists: Donnie Cady, Ace Dahlke, Bella Gray, Regan Iorfida, Maria Lambert,
Draper Matthews, Tess Murphy, Felicity Olsen, Talia Shrader, AJ Westley, Kolin Wilkins.
Portraiture has long been synonymous with the face, from classical painting to photography to the curated images we post on social media. Yet oftentimes, what evokes someone most vividly may not require their face at all, but rather a particular song, a pair of socks, a favorite meal.
The artworks in this show highlight the moments where portraiture stretches beyond formal, front-facing depictions rooted in centuries of Western art tradition. They make room for the deeper, more nuanced approaches–ways in which artists convey a person’s essence through gesture, metaphor, and material. Through both subtle and overt means, artists here evoke presence. Whether through still life arrangements, anthropomorphic stand-ins, the tender action of stitching, or careful collection of objects, each work invites us to sense identity without relying on a physical likeness.
This particular collection of “portraits” asks us to shift our focus away from recognition and towards resonance; to listen to what the work tells us about someone we may never know. The works suggest that emotional resonance is not merely an echo of the subject, but a portrait in its own right. Even something like a pile of dirty socks may hold the strength and significance to become a portrait.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
A wide view of an exhibition of abstracted portraits at CIRA gallery. The gallery has a wooden floor, light colored walls, and a dark painted ceiling. There are angular support beams near the walls and artwork hanging throughout the space.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
Four abstracted portraits on display together: a painting of an owl; a glass sculpture of discarded socks; a painting of a person holding their face; a black and white drawing of shoes .
"Who's There?" at CIRA
An abstracted portrait of a person holding their face.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
An abstracted portrait in the form of a glass sculpture of discarded socks resting on a pedestal. The title is "Old Friends."
"Who's There?" at CIRA
An abstracted portrait in the form of a drawing of shoes.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
Two abstracted portraits in the form of a painting of an owl and a drawing of shoes.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
Abstracted portraits in the form of paper poetry hung on the wall.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
An abstracted portrait in the form of an oil painting of someone's stomach.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
A gallery view of this exhibition including the poster and poetry hung on the wall.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
An abstracted portrait in the form of a colorful multimedia piece that is reminiscent of fire.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
An abstracted portrait in the form of a painting with a harshly lit image of a woman's face.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
A wall view of multiple abstracted portraits on the wall.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
An abstracted set of portraits in the form of colorful paintings of food split between multiple canvases.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
An abstracted portrait in the form of poetry hanging on the all with string as well as a sculptural item on a pedestal.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
An abstracted portrait in the form of a scrap of lined paper pinned to the wall. The paper has something scrawled on it.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
An abstracted portrait in the form of a multi-media fabric frame that is dripping with frilly and dainty lace and light pink colors.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
An abstracted portrait in the form of a two dimensional bejeweled skull wearing a crown. The canvas is painted dark and covered in shiny bits and bobbles.
"Who's There?" at CIRA
Artist AJ Westley standing next to his abstracted portrait of someone's bare stomach.