Rhona Hoffman will join EXPO CHICAGO as an exhibiting gallery for our September debut. Rhona Hoffman Gallery specializes in international contemporary art in all medias, and art that is conceptually, formally or socio-politically based. Active in the Chicago arts community, the gallery gives exposure to both emerging and established artists.

Rhona Hoffman Gallery presents tête-à-tête, an incredible group exhibition of photographic work. Curated by Mickalene Thomas, tête-à-tête features work by Derrick Adams, Jayson Keeling, Deana Lawson, Zanele Muholi, Clifford Owens, Mahlot Sansosa, Malick Sidibe, Xaviera Simmons, Mickalene Thomas and Hank Willis Thomas.

Courtesy of Rhona Hoffman Gallery.

Courtesy of Rhona Hoffman Gallery.

Courtesy of Rhona Hoffman Gallery.

tête-à-tête showcases photography by both African and African-American artists, and asks us to consider the conceptual idea of the black body and what that means in society today. Mickalene Thomas is interested in the performative way in which male artists use their physical presence in relation to the viewer and the way many female artists view themselves through the gaze of another (often male).

Clifford Owens inverts the art historical male gaze and creates a “black male on male gaze.” In a collection of performances called “Communicating with Shadows,” Derrick Adams develops a personal conversation by creating enlarged, projected silhouette impressions of artists such as Joseph Beuys and Adrian Piper.

Clifford Owens, Anthology (Nsenga Knight). Two c-prints 40 x 60 inches, each. Courtesy of Rhona Hoffman Gallery.

Zanele Muholi photographs black lesbians she met and established relationships with through the South African townships. “Faces and Phases” explores what it means to be female, lesbian and black in South Africa today.

Deana Lawson creates photographs that serve as visual representations of familiar relationships, sexuality and life cycles. Xaviera Simmons is often pictured within her photographs, capturing both truth and fiction in her colorful compositions.

Zanele Muholi, Tinky II 2010 C-Print. Courtesy of Rhona Hoffman Gallery.

Xaviera Simmons, Untitled (Pink), 2008 40 x 50 inches; 43 x 52.5 inches, framed Edition 3 of 3 + 2AP. Courtesy of Rhona Hoffman Gallery.

Also on display are works from “Polaroid Series,” by Mickalene Thomas. These compositions of archival digital Polaroid prints illuminate her artistic process, and the images expose the subjects as she herself would have seen them. The groupings and notes articulate the intimate conversations between artist and subject.

Courtesy of Rhona Hoffman Gallery.

Rhona Hoffman Gallery is located at at 118 North Peoria Street between Randolph and Washington Street. For more information, please call 312.455.1990 or visit Rhona Hoffman Gallery.

Emmaline Niendorf is an Integrated Marketing Associate with Otherwise Incorporated.