ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Castor Gallery's 'Strangers' Obstructs Portraiture's Gaze

exhibition · 2026-05-01

The Castor Gallery in New York City is featuring the group exhibition 'Strangers' from August 3 to 19, 2017, under the curation of Emma Frank. This showcase includes a variety of artists exploring innovative interpretations of portraiture that eschew direct engagement. Jesse Draxler presents shadowy figures in his works 'Consciousness Antenna III' and 'Living with a Ghost.' Krista Louise Smith’s piece, 'Tell Me You Love Me,' depicts a nude figure intertwined with an ethereal form. Other highlights include Anthony Goicolea’s 'Anonymous Self Portrait' and Juan Miguel Palacios' 'Wound' series, while Mercedes Helnwein’s vibrant pastels create a sense of obscurity.

Key facts

  • Exhibition 'Strangers' curated by Emma Frank at Castor Gallery
  • Dates: August 3 to 19, 2017
  • Location: 254 Broome Street, New York City
  • Artists: Jesse Draxler, Anthony Goicolea, Mercedes Helnwein, Juan Miguel Palacios, Krista Louise Smith
  • Works subvert traditional portraiture by obstructing the subject's gaze
  • Draxler's 'Consciousness Antenna III' (2017) and 'Living with a Ghost' (2017) feature black silhouettes
  • Smith's 'Tell Me You Love Me' (2017) includes a nude with head outside frame
  • Goicolea's 'Anonymous Self Portrait' (2016) uses translucent resin panel

Entities

Artists

  • Jesse Draxler
  • Anthony Goicolea
  • Mercedes Helnwein
  • Juan Miguel Palacios
  • Krista Louise Smith
  • Emma Frank

Institutions

  • Castor Gallery

Locations

  • New York City
  • United States
  • 254 Broome Street

Sources