This itemset features 2D self-portraits from the University Museum at Texas Southern's collections. They range in medium, including prints, drawings, and paintings. Portraiture remains a key part of the art curriculum at Texas Southern.
Curated By
Ben Schachter
Contributing Institution
Texas Southern University
Identifier
HCAC.TSU.IS.005
Rights
All rights held by the University Museum at Texas Southern. For permission to publish, distribute, or use this image for any other purpose, please contact University Museum, Texas Southern University umuseum@gmail.com Attn: Museum Director. Materials not created by Texas Southern University may still be under copyright. Additional materials may be presented for educational and research purposes in accordance with fair use under United States copyright law.
About This Record
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Obey’s print is a self-portrait. Under the direction of Dr. Biggers and Professor Simms, students would paint and draw self-portraits and sometimes sculpt self-portraits of their busts. This print depicts Obey in her bra; she also painted a self-portrait in a similar style. Biggers once referred to Obey as "one of our finest painters.”
This work by Raheem Bellard is a self-portrait of the artist, with his face illuminated by the sun, wearing a green scarf. Cool colors are used throughout the piece, which enhances the tranquility of the composition.
Tinker's painting is a self-portrait of the artist wearing her hair in an afro and a tunic draped over one shoulder. A golden halo emanates from behind her afro, attracting the viewer's eye to the center. As a part of the art curriculum, students would create various self-portraits. Tinker continues to practice art and is now based in Boston.
Davis drew his black-and-white self portrait during his time as an art student at Texas Southern University. He drew himself clean-shaven with long sideburns. His use of charcoal creates the smooth and balanced shading seen in this piece.The artist also completed a terracotta self portrait of his head. Self-portraits in drawing classes remain a part of the art major curriculum at TSU.
Erma Gordon's self-portrait shows the artist from three different angles. The three profiles are tied together by a light, almost translucent fabric that is worn by the frontmost figure and held by the others. This motif is used repeatedly by the artist, including in her mural. Two boys move fluidly and playfully through the background.
This painting is an Afrocentric self-portrait of Earl Jones, who attended Texas Southern University in the mid-1970s. Jones painted himself wearing a detailed shirt with various patterns reminiscent of African textiles. The background includes round homes with conical roofs. The buttons of Jones' shirt are in the form of humans and the shirt bears the design of a plowed field.
Samples’ painting is a self-portrait. During the elementary painting course, Texas Southern art majors are required to paint self-portraits. Samples’ classmates recall being intimidated and inspired by his talent and work pace when they sat next to him in the studio. Samples was one of the founders of Houston’s Project Row Houses and now works as an art conservator at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
