Reminiscing (work of art)
Artwork Info
Key Ideas
- Beverly McIver is a contemporary artist from Greensboro, North Carolina. She is known for expressive, colorful self-portraits inspired by her life experiences. Her work explores themes of race, identity, and belonging.
- Reminiscing is a three-panel self-portrait that shows the artist in quiet, reflective moments. McIver created this painting shortly after the death of her mother. The work suggests a period of deep thought and personal reflection.
- As a teenager McIver was a member of a high school clowning club and considered becoming a professional clown. She later chose to pursue a career in art. Her experience performing in clown makeup and a wig became an important influence on her artistic voice.
Learn More
Beverly McIver was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina. She is known for creating self-portraits that examine identity and how individuals see themselves within society. Her paintings often show strong facial expressions and visible brushstrokes, emphasizing emotion and personal experience.
In this painting the artist shows herself in three different poses. In each image she appears quiet and thoughtful. She made this work while grieving the loss of her mother. The painting shows how life experiences can shape a person’s sense of self. By repeating her image, she suggests that identity is complex and can change over time.
I try to face whatever is going on in my life, joyful or painful, through my paintings. I express myself with brushstrokes. It’s how I process my happiness or grief, and how I communicate with the world.
Beverly McIver
In many of her works, McIver paints herself as a clown. This image connects to her teenage years in a high school clowning club, where performing helped her feel confident and accepted. The clown figure in her paintings often wears black makeup instead of the traditional white face paint. This choice refers to the history of blackface. Blackface is a type of theatrical makeup once used in the United States to create racist stereotypes of Black people. By including this reference in her self-portraits, McIver links her personal story to larger conversations about race and representation in American culture.
McIver taught as an art professor at Duke University from 2015 to 2025. She retired from teaching in 2025 to focus on her studio practice.
tags: North Carolina, identity, observation, perception, reflection, variation, emotions
Additional Resources
Resources for Teachers
- Read an article about Beverly McIver.
- Explore a self-portrait activity from the National Gallery of Art.
- Watch a video about McIver’s artistic inspiration.
Resources for Students
- Watch a video about McIver’s creative process.
- Visit the artist’s website to see more examples of her work.
- Watch a video about self-portraits and experiment with creating your own.
Images
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Reminiscing