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Photographs by Doris Ulmann and Andy Warhol Exhibition at the University of Kentucky College of Design

The University of Kentucky Art Museum exhibition “Face Value: Photographs by Doris Ulmann and Andy Warhol” showcases the work of two of America’s most renowned artists. On view now through April 23.

Images of Debbie Harry and Giorgio Armani were captured by Andy Warhol.
Separated by a half century, Doris Ulmann (1882-1934) and Andy Warhol (1928-1987) had profound aesthetic and philosophical differences, yet shared surprising common ground. “Face Value” is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to see their work together, revealing distinct approaches to portraiture, constructions of identity, and conceptions of art, class and society. The exhibition features 66 photographs drawn from the museum’s extensive collection of images by both artists, presented in ways that acknowledge the evolution of the medium (cameras, technical capacities and printing techniques) and the sensitivity to the individuals who posed for them or were posed by them.
“Face Value” brings together washerwomen, weavers, fashion designers and sports heroes, like Kentucky’s own Muhammad Ali. It provides access to insular communities defined by history and geography, including Shaker villages and Gullah settlements, as well as hotspots like Studio 54 and Fire Island. And most importantly, it offers an unlikely pair of portraitists, who know that photography can be slow or fast, grainy or sharp, factual or full of fiction.

The UK Art Museum, located in the Singletary Center for the Arts at Rose Street and Euclid Avenue, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free but donations are encouraged.

More information: uky.edu/uk4ky