Taking David Hockney’s painting Shirley Goldfarb + Gregory Masurovsky (1974) as its point of departure, this exhibition focuses on portraits of artist pairs.
The presentation considers not only how each painting conveys aspects of the subjects’ identities as individuals and artists, but also how the selection and placement of sitters draws attention to the relationships and psychological connections between them. Side by Side is the first exhibition to demonstrate how artworks from the Doris and Donald Fisher Collection will be remixed with those from the museum’s collection and elsewhere to introduce fresh perspectives and ideas.
The show includes paintings as varied as Frida Kahlo’s Frieda and Diego Rivera (1931) and Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s Wedding Portrait (2012), as well as a new work by Bay Area artist Travis Collinson created for Side by Side.