CATHERINE OPIE: TO BE SEEN

National Portrait Gallery Publications

Spring 2026

ESSAY
Being and Having

Contemporary artist Catherine Opie documents the ebb and flow of human culture. Opie's photography redefines portraiture, probing the complex questions of who we are, how we present ourselves, and why representation matters. Catherine Opie is one of the most influential artists of our time, and through her portrait photography she conveys a sense of shared humanity and beauty. At the core of Opie’s work is a persistent exploration of the evolving ideas around community, identity, and belonging, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. This publication accompanies the exhibition Catherine Opie: To Be Seen at the National Portrait Gallery, developed in close collaboration with the artist.