The exhibit opens with the most famous of all the fashion dolls: Barbie. Several portraits of the beloved icon from Judy Ragagli's Barbie collection will be on display as you first enter the exhibit hall. All made from oil on canvas, Ragagli's use of hyperrealism mirrors that of the exaggerated realism that has made Barbie dolls so popular today. Looking as plastic and flawless as ever, Ragagli states that “by presenting Barbie through portraiture, I aim to create a vision of Barbie that is still and noble.” (Ragagli, “Artist Statement”) Barbie has without a doubt captured the mind and hearts of millions of people throughout the world, and Ragagli's clear admiration for the doll comes through in the soft, feminine light in which the doll is portrayed. Ragagli says of her collection, “my goal is to pay homage to this surviving icon of modernity, femininity, and style. I want my viewers to recognize Barbie as an important and positive influence withing American society on both the individual and aggregate levels.” (Ragagli)
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