 – Opening at the Worcester Art Museum on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the “First Revelation of the Sovereign Queen” will showcase works by Martine Gutierrez, which blurs…){kind=link}
WORCESTER, MA (PNAN) – Opening at the Worcester Art Museum on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the “First Revelation of the Sovereign Queen” will showcase works by Martine Gutierrez, which blurs the boundaries between performance, photography, and self-portraiture. Through constructed worlds and cinematic tableaus, artist Gutierrez explores identity as both artifice and truth; thusly, intertwining personal heritage, mythology, and popular culture into reflections on belonging and transformation.
Gutierrez will draw inspiration from artworks across the Museum’s collection and from cultures spanning centuries and continents, for her Wall at WAM commission. Known for creating elaborate photographic self-portraits using mannequins, handcrafted sets, and original costumes, she will produce a new large-scale image that brings together references from these historical objects with elements of her own cultural heritage. The resulting work will explore how photography can reinterpret enduring themes of identity, transformation, and spirituality for contemporary audiences.
Since the WAM series began in 1998, Gutierrez is the 12th artist featured in the Wall. The billboard-sized wall fills a 67-foot expanse on the second story of the Museum’s Renaissance Court. First Revelation of the Sovereign Queen by Martine Gutierrez is organized by Samantha Cataldo, Curator of Contemporary Art.
An Artist Talk is set for Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 2:00 pm. In this venue, attendees will discover how Gutierrez drew inspiration from the art in the Museum’s collection to create her monumental installation. In addition, she will also provide attendees with a close look at her unique approach to photography that often incorporates complex, handcrafted sets, props, and costumes.