Fashioning Identity and Power: A Discussion of Clothing and Pattern in the Portraiture of Kira Nam Greene

Monday, September 14, 2026 12:00–1:00 Falvey Hall Programming by MICA Exhibitions and the Painting Department along with the on-campus exhibition DEVOTED: 20 Years of The McMillan-Stewart Endowed Chair in Painting Artist Kira Nam Greene and fashion historian Victoria Pass will be in conversation about the role of fashion, pattern, and art history in Greene's portrait paintings. Greene's work approaches fashion from a feminist perspective, understanding it as a tool for constructing identity and embodying power. Her background in political science and economy brings a unique perspective on the ways that global flows of goods and people have also always included textiles, patterns, and garments. Born in Seoul, Korea, Kira Nam Greene lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. Greene has shown her work widely at venues such as the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Sheldon Museum of Art, Gallery Korea, A.I.R. Gallery, and Jane Lombard Gallery. Greene’s portraits and still-lifes combine contemporary socio-political discourse with the history and the tradition of painting. Victoria Rose Pass is a specialist in Visual Culture, particularly in areas of design and fashion. Her research considers the history of fashion culture in the 20th century and focuses specifically on issues of gender and race. She is currently the Chair of the History of Art, Design, and Visual Culture department at MICA. This program was made possible by the generous support of The McMillan-Stewart Foundation