Whitney Biennial 2017

Floor 5

Born 1977 in Mexico City, Mexico
Lives in Brooklyn, NY

Aliza Nisenbaum’s portraits make use of bold color and pattern in order to frame modest, intimate scenes. She often depicts undocumented immigrants, many of whom Nisenbaum first met while she was teaching a class called “English through Art History.” Nisenbaum works with live models and considers the encounter between artist and sitter an ethical one in which the two parties come to trust and know each other well. Her images personalize the immigrant experience and give visibility to the normally unseen.