This major exhibition of contemporary figurative art explores identity, memory, and lived experience through deeply personal portraiture. Organized in partnership with Chelsie Nicole Contemporary, in collaboration with The Citadelle Art Museum, Human Resonance brings together seven nationally and internationally recognized artists whose careers span galleries, museums, and major exhibitions across the United States and abroad.

At the heart of the exhibition is the work of David Kassan, an internationally celebrated realist painter whose portraits of Holocaust survivors give visual testimony to stories that might otherwise be lost to time. Created through extensive dialogue with his sitters, Kassan’s paintings carry both technical mastery and profound empathy, an approach also seen in museum projects such as Facing Survival, where his portraits were paired with survivor testimonies to deepen the connection between viewer and subject.

Together, the artists invite you to slow down, look longer, and step into the quiet moments that shape who we are.

On view: Now–June 13, 2026

FEATURED ARTISTS

David Kassan 

An internationally celebrated realist painter whose portraits of Holocaust survivors give visual testimony to stories that deserve to be carried forward. View their work. 

Annie Murphy-Robinson

Known for striking charcoal drawings that hold introspection and narrative nuance with remarkable precision. View their work. 

Shana Levenson

A representational painter whose portraits focus on storytelling through gesture, detail, and presence. View their work. 

Chelsie Murfee

Brings both curatorial vision and contemporary perspective, connecting emerging and established figurative voices. View their work. 

Barbara Hack

Creates mixed-media portraiture that blends surface and structure to reveal vulnerability and resilience. View their work. 

Karen Offutt

A painter whose expressive approach invites reflection on beauty, memory, and self-awareness. View their work. 

Tanja Gant

A hyperrealist artist whose meticulous technique brings quiet power and nuance to each subject. View their work. 

Adult Portrait Drawing Workshop

Award-winning artist Chelsie Nicole Murfee is known for her raw, graphite portraits, drawings that hold tension, stillness, and detail in every mark. 

This June, she’s bringing that process to The Citadelle. You’ll spend four immersive days with Chelsie studying facial structure, values, and the balance of risk and restraint it takes to make a portrait that feels alive.

Each day includes hands-on demonstrations, studio time, and feedback that helps sharpen both technique and perspective.

If you’ve wanted to grow in your drawing practice, this is a rare opportunity to be taught, not just shown.

Learn more about Chelsie Nicole Murfee by visiting cncontemporary.com.

June 11–14, 2026
All skill levels welcome
$625 registration | Limited seating
*10% discount for Early Bird through March 15

THE CITADELLE

Museum hours: Tuesday–Saturday | 11 AM–4 PM
Location: 520 Nelson Ave | Canadian, TX 79014
Admission: $10 adults | $8 seniors 65+ | Free for children under 18
GET TICKETS https://thecitadelle.org/current-exhibition/