Beverly McIver's First Exhibition at Betty Cuningham Gallery Features Self-Portraits and Family Narratives

Beverly McIver is showcasing her inaugural exhibition at the Betty Cuningham Gallery in New York City, highlighting intense self-portraits and touching family stories. The painter, who hails from North Carolina, delves into her bond with her sister, who has a mental disability, exemplified in her 2011 piece, Renee Drinking Starbucks (Triptych). Additionally, she tackles themes such as depression and societal views of black women, asserting the intertwining of personal and political narratives. In a catalog essay for her 2006 show at Kent Gallery, critic Irving Sandler remarked that McIver uniquely adapts the expressionist tradition, producing authentic and distinctive autobiographical art. The exhibition is open until July 1 at 541 West 25th Street, and an HBO documentary on McIver is set to air in December. The featured works include oil on canvas, with Renee Drinking Starbucks (Triptych) measuring 36 x 108 inches.