NEW YORK, NY – Chelsea’s Agora Gallery is set to showcase the evocative work of Z. Michael Schmidt in the exhibition "Metamorphosis." The event kicks off on November 11, 2017, and runs until December 2, 2017, with an opening reception on Thursday, November 16, from 6-8 pm.
Z. Michael Schmidt’s predominantly black-and-white portraits delve into the solitude of the human condition with a compassionate simplicity. Eschewing posed subjects and explicit instructions, Schmidt’s tightly cropped images focus on faces and the stories they tell. Stark, clear, and straightforward, these photographs are stripped down to their essentials, allowing the subjects to weave intricate webs of human emotion through simple gestures and candid expressions.
In his early works such as Scream (Switzerland), Secrets (Switzerland), and Smile (Switzerland), Schmidt captures his animated subjects in tight compositions. These photographs, taken in an asylum, are rich with subtle detail and express the diverse reactions to involuntary confinement. The images are a testament to the raw, unfiltered emotions of the human spirit under duress.
Schmidt’s later contemplative portraits, including Señor Louis (New York), Pensive (New York), Father and Son (Jerusalem), and Cleopatra (New York), reveal the psychology of his subjects with solemn intensity. These works adopt a serious tone, documenting unspoken exchanges and complex body language with grace and empathy. The artist’s ability to capture the essence of his subjects’ inner lives is both profound and moving.
An outlier in Schmidt’s oeuvre of portraits is Sphinx (Egypt), which chronicles a desert journey on horseback. This piece captures the countenance of the Sphinx in a manner akin to a traditional portrait, blending the ancient with the contemporary in a unique and compelling way.
The "Metamorphosis" exhibition features the works of eighteen artists, including:
"Metamorphosis" is an exhibition of contrast and change, featuring eighteen artists who present diverse and opposing perspectives on time, place, and the human condition. The works on view challenge the arbitrary nature of boundaries, conjuring feelings of harmony and mutual transformation despite the presence of difference.
By capturing the essence of humanity through his lens, Z. Michael Schmidt offers viewers a profound and moving experience, making "Metamorphosis" a must-see exhibition.
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