Claire Lehmann's 'The Understudy' at Bel Ami merges Renaissance iconography with medical imaging

Running from April 20 to May 25, Claire Lehmann's exhibition 'The Understudy' is showcased at Bel Ami in Los Angeles. This display features eight small paintings that blend Early Renaissance aesthetics with modern medical visuals. The standout piece, 'Leaven' (2023–24), is 76 × 61 cm and portrays a Paschal lamb cake within a home environment. Another notable work, 'Fontanel' (2023–24), reinvents devotional portraiture through the lens of an obstetric mannequin. Lehmann has a history of integrating medical instruments into her art, highlighting their human aspect. In a 2021 interview with Frieze, she remarked that oil paintings endure longer than diagrams. Additional pieces include 'Perruque' (2024) and 'Diviner' (2023–24), collectively examining the fusion of scientific imaging and historical art.