Catherine Opie: Genre / Gender / Portraiture

Portraiture like you’ve never seen before! Discover Catherine Opie: Genre / Gender / Portraiture. Step into the powerful and thought-provoking world of photographer Catherine Opie, one of the most influential voices in contemporary photography. Genre / Gender / Portraiture celebrates nearly four decades of Opie’s groundbreaking work capturing identity, community, and the many ways people express gender. Since the late 1980s, Opie has been known for her striking portraits of queer communities across California—images that challenge traditional ideas of portraiture while celebrating individuality and authenticity. Through her lens, portrait photography becomes more than a picture—it becomes a conversation about identity, visibility, and the evolving spectrum of gender expression.

Created alongside a major exhibition at the Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand, the book explores the double meaning of the Portuguese word “gênero,” which refers to both gender and artistic genre. Opie’s photographs are displayed in dialogue with historic portraits from the museum’s collection, creating fascinating connections between centuries-old traditions and contemporary perspectives. Inside, you’ll discover around 60 photographs from Opie’s most iconic series, showcasing intimate, bold, and deeply human portraits that both question and reshape how we see identity. With work exhibited at major institutions like the Walker Art Center, St. Louis Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, Opie has helped redefine what portrait photography can be.

Bold, thoughtful, and visually captivating, Catherine Opie: Genre / Gender / Portraiture is a must-have for photography lovers, art enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the evolving story of identity in contemporary art.

Details 

• Hardcover
• 176 Pages with 120 Illustrations
• Dimension: 10.8in x 8in