Photographers Tania Franco Klein and Lucia Fainzilber make their debut at Phillips with works that explore the complexities of identity rather than traditional self-portraits. Both artists embrace an interdisciplinary approach, reflecting their diverse backgrounds—Franco Klein has lived in Mexico City, California, and London, while Buenos Aires-born Fainzilber currently resides in New York. Their pieces, Plane (Self-portrait) and Untitled 31, capture the confusion, protection, and yearning inherent in a self still in formation.

Before fully transitioning to photography, Lucia Fainzilber honed her skills in cinematic post-production and color correction. Color has always been a central element in her work. She recalls, “Since I was a little kid, I had a passion for color. I had phases where I dressed in pink, black, and green, and everything I chose revolved around those colors.” The vibrant red of Dorothy’s shoes from The Wizard of Oz left a lasting impression on her.

Her self-portrait series, Somewear, reflects this lifelong fascination with color, while simultaneously revealing insecurities surrounding her identity. She began the series during her third year in New York, a city she feels embodies constant change. “It makes you want new things all the time,” she explains, “as if your ability to adapt signifies evolution.”

In Untitled 31, rich patterns and optical illusions blend with pink, red, and green florals to create a sense of camouflage. Although it’s the only image where Fainzilber faces the camera, she obscures her identity with a strategically placed cactus. Here, identity is portrayed as vibrant, alluring, and continuously evolving.