Chromogenic print, printed 2003
Not on view
Hershman Leeson created and assumed the identity of a “simulated person” named Roberta Breitmore for several years in 1970s San Francisco. The artist later described Roberta as “an abstract vehicle that could interact with the world” but never fully exist. Embodying this character in reality required more than cosmetic changes, like wearing a wig or makeup; Roberta had her own handwriting and therapist, and possessed real credit cards and a driver’s license. In Roberta's Construction Chart #2, Hershman Leeson critically plays with stereotypical beauty ideals, transforming a photograph of herself as Roberta through annotations and drawn lines of “suggested alterations.”
Vital Signs: Artists and the Body, November 3–February 22, 2024
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Lynn Hershman Leeson
American, born 1941 45 works onlineSurveying Lynn Hershman Leeson’s long and relentlessly innovative career, it would be tempting to ascribe to the artist some uncanny power of technological foresight.
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Investigating identity
Identity is the way we perceive and express ourselves. Factors such as race, ethnicity, or gender—often play a role in defining our identity. However, many aspects of a our identities change throughout our lives.
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