Who Are the Unknown Sitters?

Apr 1

A new HNOC art exhibition asks the viewer to imagine their identities

NEW ORLEANS — Studying history requires imagination. Viewing the new interactive exhibition Unknown Sitters, drawn from painted portraits from the holdings of the Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC), will require it of gallery visitors as well. The subjects of these 26 portraits are unidentified in the historical record, their identities lost or erased from history for a variety of reasons.

On view April 5 through Oct. 6, 2024, Unknown Sitters will ask visitors to tell us who they are. In addition to the portraits, the exhibition features several engaging activities exploring the practice of portraiture from the perspectives of both artist and subject.

“When family estates were sold, beloved portraits were divorced from their historical narratives,” said Lydia Blackmore, the exhibition’s curator. “Sometimes artists did not record the name of sitters, particularly when the sitter was a paid model. Portraits of children, the elderly, women and people of color were more likely to lose their identities than those of white men. With this exhibition, the Historic New Orleans Collection explores the power of imagination beyond the traditional sphere of historical inquiry and welcomes a wider group of thinkers and storytellers to engage with historical portraiture.”

Unknown Sitters has already tapped the power of imagination through the HNOC education department’s annual Student Writing Contest, which invited students from elementary, middle and high school to submit creative responses imagining the names and stories of the paintings’ subjects. More than 1,000 submissions were received, with at least one from every US state. The winning entries will be displayed in the exhibition.

When grouped together, the works in Unknown Sitters reflect the field of portraiture in New Orleans art history and illuminate gaps and biases in the historical record. Visitors are invited to look into the eyes of the sitters, view other objects in the paintings, learn about the artists and then imagine a story for each mysterious subject.

Unknown Sitters is sponsored by Baptist Community Ministries. Media partners in the exhibition’s presentation are The Times-Picayune | Nola.com and WVUE-FOX 8.

Unknown Sitters will be on view Tuesday through Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4: 30 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4: 30 p.m. on the first floor of HNOC’s Tricentennial Wing at 520 Royal St. Admission is free but reservations are encouraged. Learn more about Unknown Sitters and plan your visit at hnoc.org.

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About the Historic New Orleans Collection
Founded in 1966, the Historic New Orleans Collection is a museum, research center and publisher dedicated to the stewardship of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South. For more information, visit www.hnoc.org, call (504) 523-4662 or follow HNOC on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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