Pictured: Jess T. Dugan (American, born 1986), Self-portrait (blue room), 2021, pigment inkjet print, 40 x 30 inches. Courtesy of the artist.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (The Ringling)presentsI want you to know my storyon view in the Keith D. Monda Gallery of Contemporary Art from August 17, 2024, through February 25, 2025. The exhibition features the work of renowned contemporary photographer Jess T. Dugan. This solo exhibition includes new photographs from their ongoing series Look at me like you love methat consists of portraits, self-portraits and still lifes.Dugan’suse ofrichtextures,vivid colors, and dramatic lighting evoke a feeling of the Baroque and grants their interior scenes a powerful sense of intimacy. But when COVID restrictions pushed Dugan to work outdoors, the artist took their subjects into the landscape to create poignant scenes bathed in the ephemeral “golden hour” light at sunset. The exhibition also featurestwo videos,Letter to My Father andLetter to My Daughter. These worksconsist of autobiographical monologues by the artist that reflect ontheir struggles and discoveriesbeing a gender non-conforming person, both as a childand now as a parent. 

Pictured: Jess T. Dugan (American, born 1986), Self-portrait (blue room), 2021, pigment inkjet print, 40 x 30 inches. Courtesy of the artist.