What is Beauty? Rethinking Women’s Portraiture in Art

What is Beauty? Rethinking Women’s Portraiture in Art invites us to explore diverse perspectives on beauty through fourteen portraits by Ventura County artists from the Museum’s permanent collection. Spanning works created between 1939 and 2011, this exhibition showcases a range of styles—from vibrant realism to minimalist simplicity—challenging traditional standards shaped by art, media, and society. Featured artists such as Hiroko Yoshimoto, Neal Barr, Omar d’Leon, Kitty Botke, and John Nava offer eclectic interpretations of women’s portraiture. Visitors are encouraged to reflect on their own ideas of beauty and consider the uniqueness each portrait reveals.

This exhibition was made possible by the Thomas and Esther Wachtell Family Endowment Fund and the Bonita C. McFarland Fund.