Portraiture has long been a cornerstone of American art, evolving from grand oil paintings of colonial aristocracy to intimate photographic studies of everyday life. It has functioned as a mirror of social values—asserting power, legacy, identity, and aspiration. As the cultural landscape of the United States has shifted, so too has the definition of who gets seen, how they are seen, and by whom. The artists included - Vitus Shell, Aron Belka, and Gina Phillips - work in varied mediums and have unique processes, but their work has a common thread; their subjects defy the expected. Rather than portraying traditional icons of wealth or status, the artists depict friends, family, and strangers.