Xenia: Crossroads in Portrait Painting celebrates diversity of intentions, makers and styles alike as befits a group exhibition devoted to the ancient Greek concept of “guest-friendship”. There are portraits by and of artists in the show, imaginary portraits of fictive personae (Robin F. Williams has two of Siri, avatars perhaps of be the disembodied Apple AI, in her suitably robotic stylization) and a fair number of selfies. Stand outs include the robustly inventive neo-secessionism of the Vienna-based and Klimt and Schiele-channeling Ghanaian Amoako Boafo and a monumental, presiding group portrait on the Fire Island dunes by Doron Langberg which is an essay in the emotional complexities of absorption and regard. Marianne Boesky Gallery, until February 1. See THE LIST for details. DAVID COHEN
Doron Langberg, Drawing Mike, 2019. Oil and color pencil on linen, 80 x 192 inches 203.2 x 487.7 cm. Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
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