Sarah Ball: An Unlikely Likeness

For this exhibition British artist Sarah Ball draws on historical photographs to create works that reflect on issues of bias, prejudice and prejudgement. The show presents a series of intimate portraits of anonymous protagonists, inspired by mug shots from 19th and 20th century photographic archives. Ellis Island immigrants, demonstrators and suspected criminals gaze directly at the viewer. The meticulously rendered, expressionless faces, removed from narrative context, have an arresting human presence. The paintings reflect on 19th century practice of anthropometry, relating facial features to criminality and question how physical appearance continues to affects judgement.