Portrait #12 2022

Adam Caldwell, born in the 20th century, made Portrait #12, a painting that disrupts our expectations of traditional portraiture. Caldwell’s piece exists in the complex terrain where identity is explored through fragmented representation. The subject's face is a collage of painted segments and overlaid with paper scraps, creating a sense of fractured selfhood. The comic-book style speech bubble with the words "I hope I'm not too late!" injects a narrative element, suggesting a story of urgency or missed opportunities. This phrase also points to a contemporary anxiety about time, relevance, and the fear of being left behind. Caldwell merges high art with pop culture, and challenges conventional notions of beauty and representation. The juxtaposition of refined painting techniques with elements of collage creates a sense of unease, reflecting the instability of identity in a rapidly changing world. In Caldwell’s fragmented portrait we can see a reflection of our own fragmented selves.