Multiple exhibitions explore portraiture, black performance art, and queer superhero themes

A photography exhibition at The Hammer Museum examines portraiture developments over the last four decades. A two-part exhibition at NYU's Grey Art Gallery documents black performance art throughout the 20th century, remaining on view through December 8. Another exhibition features knitted full-body suits that challenge traditional superhero narratives and gendered distinctions between arts and crafts. A realist painter's solo show avoids explicit sexual content while referencing historical themes of subordination. A traveling retrospective transforms personal experiences into political statements through aesthetic beauty. The concluding segment of a two-year retrospective represents a significant homecoming for the artist involved.