The Face of Us, a showcase of 50 artworks produced by 39 Jamaican artists based locally and internationally, will be launched on December 10 at the National Gallery of Jamaica (NGJ).

Formalities are scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m., featuring opening remarks by US Ambassador to Jamaica N. Nickolas Perry.

The NGJ will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and attendance will be free of cost, with light entertainment provided by DJ Iset Sankofa.

Face of Us exhibition explores Jamaican identity and social dynamics through the lens of Portraiture – a genre of art that features the likenesses of people using the human face as a powerful symbol of representation.

The NGJ publicly advertised a call for entries from June to September, encouraging artists from Jamaica and its diaspora to send portrait works which explored themes related to the personal and social responses of Jamaicans to various experiences of the last two to three years.

The featured artists of The Face of Us exhibition were selected through an adjudication process led by a jury panel which included art professionals external to the NGJ. Viewers can look forward to seeing paintings, installation projects, photography and other art forms that use portraiture to explore topics related to the pandemic, crime and violence, families, memorials, legacies, environmental issues and fiction.

The Face of Us exhibition will continue to be on public view until March 31, 2024.