ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Thomas Iser's 'Universal Humanity' Collects Thousands of Global Portraits

artist · 2026-05-13

Thomas Iser's ongoing project 'Universal Humanity' has amassed thousands of portraits from around the world. The artwork uses a symbolic card based on Iser's fragmented identity, inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi. It features celebrities, strangers, and forgotten faces on equal footing, aiming to transform personal reconstruction into collective human memory. The project emphasizes that strength, beauty, and connection can arise from adversity.

Key facts

  • Universal Humanity is a worldwide artwork by Thomas Iser.
  • It consists of thousands of portraits collected globally.
  • The project uses a symbolic card based on Iser's fragmented identity.
  • The card is inspired by kintsugi.
  • Portraits include celebrities, strangers, and forgotten faces.
  • The artwork aims to transform personal reconstruction into collective human memory.
  • It highlights strength, beauty, and connection emerging from adversity.

Entities

Artists

  • Thomas Iser

Sources