Elizabeth Peyton
In her practice, Elizabeth Peyton explores the limits and possibilities of small-scale intimate portraits often of celebrities or historical figures. This captivating piece captures a poignant moment before the historic 2008 United States presidential election. In it, we see the future First Lady, Michelle Obama, listening intently to her husband's convention speech while her daughter, Sasha Obama, rests her head on her mother’s lap with a pensive expression. The work captures these two individuals before they rose to prominence in American history and before they became oft-watched public figures. Peyton renders the background figures faceless, focusing solely on the mother and daughter duo. By doing so, she invites viewers to see beyond the public facade all humans project when together with others, and instead bears witness to the authentic human connection between a mother and her child.