The self-portrait takes up an extraordinary position in most artists’ oeuvres. Traditionally they are rare depictions of the state of an artist at a certain point in its life. For Philip Akkerman’s however, his self is his sole subject. Already certain of his subject, Akkerman is free to focus on his technique. Almost methodically he recreates the image of himself using the wealth of painterly techniques made available through the whole of arts’ history. Ranging in style from hyperrealism to abstraction and the intentionally naïve, his portraits display as much of himself as they do of art itself. The aging of man and art are combined into a philosophical collage of forms.
On July 20th, Richard Heller Gallery in Santa Monica will open Philip Akkerman: Self Portraits 1983 – 2024, a collection of works from the Dutch artist.
