Kin

Those closest to us—family, friends, and lovers—constitute our most intimate connections and are frequently the first line of defense and support against life’s hardships. Kin can include those groups into which we are born and grow, but also the ones we find, create, and nurture. Beyond oneself, these family units are the greatest source of potential health and happiness. When we flourish, they celebrate our successes and joy with us. When we suffer, they console and commiserate with our pain. The bond with our intimates is such that one individual’s status affects the entire group. Moreover, family (immediate or extended) has the capacity to transmit culture, bequeath knowledge, and imbue spaces with the warmth and the nostalgia of home. The power of these bonds is captured and remembered through pictures, as is evident in the works shown here. As humans, we are and have always been social beings with an innate need for emotional and physical connections. No matter the century or place, artists have considered and explored the significance of such relationships—and the well-being they embody—through works of art.

Caitlin Blomo '21

Moss Davis '21

Isabel Williams '22