Behind the Portrait

This exhibition presents six portraits of League artists by League artist Tom Creem gifted to the Art Students League in 1936. Little is known about the artist, but his insightful caricatures of these six former instructors show an in-depth knowledge of and passion for the League’s history.

This exhibition pairs Creem’s portraits with works by their subjects – the majority of which are drawn from the League’s permanent collection. How do Creem’s portraits reference the subject’s artistic oeuvres? What dialogues do you see between their works and those of Creem? How does Creem use caricature to show the personalities of his subjects and their contributions to art history? And, finally, how does Creem’s own voice come through in these portraits?

Creem studied at the League from 1935-1937, taking classes with Harry Sternberg, Reginald Marsh, George Grosz, Guy Pène Du Bois, and William McNulty, among others. Thus, Creem would have known his sitters personally, studying with some of them and knowing others from being in and around the League. Following his time at the League, Creem went on to serve in the United States Army during World War II. While enlisted, he published his cartoons and caricatures for Yank, The Army Weekly, and kept extensive personal journals chronicling his experience in the South Pacific. This exhibition celebrates the League as a hub for artists to teach, learn, and inspire.

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This exhibition is curated by Esther V. Moerdler, Curatorial Assistant.

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