Internationally renowned photographer Catherine Opie discusses the connections between historic and contemporary painting and photography within her practice, in conversation with Rebecca Lyons, Director of Collections & Learning at the RA.

Over a three-decade career, Opie’s practice has explored notions of identity, community, sexuality and belonging. Sometimes described as ‘social portraiture’, her work encompasses a wide variety of subjects from portraits and seascapes to domestic scenes and deserted freeways, and has established her status as one of the foremost documentarians of contemporary life.

Five of Opie’s portraits of leading British artists will be featured in a new display in the Royal Academy’s Collection Gallery. Drawing on the theatricality of 17th-century Baroque paintings these works depict Gillian Wearing, Anish Kapoor, Isaac Julien, David Hockney and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.

In this conversation, Opie discusses her continuing dialogue with the Western artistic canon and the geopolitical, cultural, and historical narratives in her work.

Catherine Opie in conversation
Tuesday 11 July 2023, 6.30–7.30pm

The Benjamin West Lecture Theatre
The Royal Academy of Arts
6 Burlington Gardens
London
W1S 3ET

Catherine Opie: Portraits of Artists will be on display in the Collection Gallery at the Royal Academy from 17 June–3 December 2023.