The Union series playfully reconstructs figures of American history by combining portraits of US Presidents and First Ladies. With images garnered from the Library of Congress collections, each portrait reflects the face of the First Lady, with elements from her husband’s portrait and related visual information. These inter-subjective portraits challenge dominant historical narratives, and explore issues of gender and power in American history. Coded in a language of Americana patterning, and symbols associated with Indian Wars, western expansion, art history and contemporary visual culture, the series actively creates new mythologies surrounding these vaguely recognizable historical figures.
