Welcome to the COLAB: Art and Music from Baltimore and Beyond!

COLAB ARTIST’S PANEL TALK

“Seeing Identity: The Power of the Portrait”

Friday, July 18, 2025 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM

COLAB Guest Curator Hilary Pierce will moderate a panel of professional artists working in a range of mediums who use portraiture to express ideas and intentions beyond simply depicting a particular subject or sitter.

Through this lively discussion, we’ll explore themes of identity and why we are compelled to possess and portray images of people we may not even know. Our conversation will include COLAB artist and master pencil draughtsman Michael C. Gibson, visiting the Eubie Blake Cultural Center from Canada; celebrated COLAB artist Charly Palmer, who paints lush and captivating portraits and has illustrated numerous children’s books, including a recent project with John Legend; and Chicago-to-Baltimore artist Dr. Yemonja Smalls, whose background in social work and advocacy for women informs her insightful and empowering mixed-media portraits.

Join us for what promises to be an engaging talk on the incredible power of the portrait and why we are compelled to create, contemplate, and enjoy them.

Regular Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM