This photograph is from an extended, ongoing series of portraits Lucas Samaras began making in 1983. The sitters—friends and acquaintances of the artist—include curators, musicians, museum directors, gallery owners, and other artists. Samaras refers to his subjects as “born actors”: people who, in various ways, perform in their everyday lives. He makes them appear unnatural by using dramatic lighting during the photo session and by digitally manipulating the color of the images afterwards.

Label from Lucas Samaras: Reflections, June 21, 2014–January 4, 2015