I AM THE CENTURY

"Alice Neel. I Am the Century accompanies the first major retrospective in Italy dedicated to the US artist Alice Neel (19001984), presented by Pinacoteca Agnelli, Turin. Conceived as both a critical and a narrative journey, this publication offers an in-depth exploration of Neels artistic and personal life, expanding on the exhibition through a rich selection of essays and visual material. It brings together sixty works reproduced in dialogue with archival documents, highlighting Neels role as a pioneer and one of the most important painters of the twentieth century. Contributions by curators, scholars, and artistsincluding Kelly Richman-Abdou, Jennifer Higgie, Mira Schor, and Annie Sprinkleprovide multiple perspectives on Neels practice, situating her radical approach to portraiture within broader artistic, social, and political contexts. Merging realism with surrealism and empathy with unflinching clarity, Neel captured the psychological and emotional depth of her sitters. The publication emphasizes her capacity to chronicle lifes stages and relationshipschildhood and adulthood, sexuality and intimacy, community and political consciousnessthrough works that continue to resonate with contemporary audiences. Positioning Neel as both artist and witness, I Am the Century underscores her enduring humanism and her singular vision of the human comedy, offering readers a comprehensive entry point into a body of work that is still influencing new generations of artists."