Lucy Liu's 'Hard Feelings' Explores Memory and Family at Alisan Fine Arts

Lucy Liu's latest exhibition, 'Hard Feelings,' at Alisan Fine Arts in New York (May 14–June 6) presents paintings that probe the instability of memory and family history. Central to the show is 'Family Portrait' (2016), depicting her parents and three children in a park, with blurred faces suggesting recollection's unreliability. Liu, known for acting roles in 'Ally McBeal,' 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Kill Bill,' and 'Elementary,' has maintained a visual art practice since her 1993 solo debut at Cast Iron Gallery. Following her father's death a decade ago, she mined family photographs for source material, leading to works like 'What Was' (2023) and 'What Stays' (2023), which focus on her mother after immigration to the U.S. Newer pieces such as 'Hourglass' (2026) and '1965' (2026) include her parents, with obscured faces and layered compositions. Liu describes painting as a way to sit with unresolved questions, aiming for emotional truth rather than literal explanation. Motherhood has heightened her awareness of legacy and generational transmission. The exhibition runs at 120 East 65th Street.