Susceptible to Images — in a bar

Summer is festival time — and people-watching time. But you can stay out of the hot sun and still get your voyeuristic fix, at Art Bar’s current exhibition: Faces, Take a Look at Yourself. Dozens of pieces represent people, both famous and anonymous, in a plethora of styles and material.

An absolutely sculptural-looking painting of Mark Twain, by Anthony Sell, hangs prominently behind the bar. In beautifully nuanced sepia tones, Sell not only captures the likeness of the author but also a sense of a sharp inner life. Working in a similar manner, in grisaille on a smaller

canvas, Sell’s painting of Marilyn Monroe is sexy and glamorous, with a hint of vulnerable sweetness. Sell impresses within fine execution within a traditional style and sensibility.

Marilyn hangs by the pool table, not by the bar. You might have to wander around the place to take in all the works by a given artist. William Arthur’s portrait of legendary musician George Clinton is among the treats in Marilyn’s region of the room. The paint is flat but with fabulous vibrancy in the color, particularly Arthur’s portrayal of Clinton’s flying, multicolored locks. His rounded mouth and eyes cast him as a distant cousin to Munch’s The Scream, though with the visceral energy of funk rather than despair of the soul.

Lena Erdström, of LKPhotography, shows her fashion plate imagery. Though a relatively new artist, she shows a strong instinct for interesting poses, styling, and light. She captures in her models introspection, playfulness, and even apprehension. Erdström probes an intriguing dimension beyond surface appearances.

Plenty of drawings and other mixed media works appear in the exhibition, such as the spirited pieces V. Ortiz Vazquez. Confident in line and strong with graphic impact, these black and white figures on cardboard play with touches of pop culture and political commentary. Deepherent stands out in particular — a bosomy, shaggy-haired, hippo-snouted character with stick arms. It’s not someone you run into everyday, and all the more reason to catch this show.

Faces, Take a Look at Yourself , is on view through July 19 at Art Bar, 722 E. Burleigh St, Milwaukee.