Artist Beverly McIver explores her career in 'Full Circle,' a retrospective exhibit

By Steve Goldstein
Published: Wednesday, August 31, 2022 - 11:36am
Updated: Wednesday, August 31, 2022 - 11:39am

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beverly mciver with one of her self-portraits
Steve Goldstein/KJZZ
Artist Beverly McIver stands next to one of her self-portraits on display in her exhibition, "Full Circle" at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.

Throughout the generations and centuries of art on this planet, self-portraits have been some of the most all-encompassing when it comes to understanding a painter and her style, and how she feels about herself at specific times of life.

Few have expressed it in as personal a way as Beverly McIver, who presents herself at various stages in clown makeup, feeling depressed and in an interracial relationship.

The work of the former Arizona State University professor, now at Duke University, has been on display across the country for nearly a quarter-century. Currently at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Arts is a retrospective of McIver’s career so far. It’s called, "Full Circle," and it closes Sept. 4.

The Show recently visited the exhibit and was given a tour by McIver and her longtime friend, Kim Boganey, who is the director of Scottsdale Public Art and the curator of this show. Boganey talked about why the exhibition was in Scottsdale.

beverly mciver and kim boganey
Steve Goldstein/KJZZ
Beverly McIver (left) and Kim Boganey in front work from McIver's exhibition, "Full Circle" at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.

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