About the Artist

Chuck Close, born in Monroe, Washington, received his MFA from Yale University in 1964. Close worked almost exclusively in portraiture, constantly pushing the boundaries of photorealistic painting.

It was revealed later in his life that Close lived with a condition known as prosopagnosia, a facial recognition disorder. This condition played a large part in his fascination with portraiture, encouraging him to push the boundaries of photorealism.

Close became a National Academician in 1992, and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2000. Close's subjects often include portraits of family, friends, and fellow artists, capturing intricate details with meticulous precision.