Exploring lesbian identity, Catherine Opie delves into her archive of unprinted black-and-white images of girlfriends to uncover portraits that complement her recent color photographs of butch-dykes, both famous and unknown. Shot from the heart, Opie’s powerful images include Madonna and Angelina Jolie’s ex-girlfriend Jenny Shimizu in black leather boots on a white bed; sultry singer k.d. lang with a guitar strung over her shoulder on a country road; author Eileen Myles sitting atop a stool in a plaid shirt; The L Word‘s Katherine Moennig blowing smoke rings; and Le Tigre’s JD Samson sporting a stache. On view at New York’s Barbara Gladstone Gallery through April 24, Opie’s portraits are both insightful and intriguing.
Catherine Opie, Jenny (Bed), 2009. Chromogenic print, 37 1/2 x 50 inches (95.3 x 127 cm). © Catherine Opie, Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York
Catherine Opie Kate, 2007. Chromogenic print, 30 x 40 inches (76.2 x 101.6 cm). © Catherine Opie, Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York
Catherine Opie, Angela (head), 1992. Ink jet print, 9 1/2 x 10 inches (24.1 x 25.4 cm) © Catherine Opie Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York
Catherine Opie, k.d., 2007. Chromogenic print, 32 x 24 inches (81.3 x 61 cm). © Catherine Opie, Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York
Catherine Opie, JD, 2008. Chromogenic print, 32 x 24 inches (81.3 x 61 cm). © Catherine Opie, Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York
Catherine Opie, Melisa (Fairmount Hotel), 1987. Ink jet print, 9 1/2 x 10 inches (24.1 x 25.4 cm). © Catherine Opie, Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York
Catherine Opie, Idexa, 2008. Chromogenic print, 37 1/2 x 50 inches (95.3 x 127 cm). © Catherine Opie, Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York
Catherine Opie Eileen, 2009. Chromogenic print, 32 x 24 inches (81.3 x 61 cm). © Catherine Opie, Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York
Catherine Opie, Amy, 1996. Ink jet print, 9 1/2 x 10 inches (24.1 x 25.4 cm). © Catherine Opie, Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York
Catherine Opie, Pig Pen, 2009. Chromogenic print, 32 x 24 inches (81.3 x 61 cm). © Catherine Opie, Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York
Catherine Opie, Feet (Ian), 1994. Ink jet print, 9 1/2 x 10 inches (24.1 x 25.4 cm). © Catherine Opie, Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York