Issue date: 2/9/05 Section: Arts

Over forty years ago, Andy Warhol presented the idea of artists as celebrities; worthy of being exposed to the public just as much as any other icon.

"Likeness: Portraits of Artists by Other Artists" took Warhol's idea, and turned it into something concrete.

"Likeness" is a unique experience in the sense that the viewer has the opportunity to see contemporary artists use their own vision and techniques to portray fellow artists.

The pieces in the exhibit were created during the past three decades by artists still active in cities like Berlin, New York and Los Angeles.

Another major difference is that while all portraits are a representation of the relationship between the artist and the subject, this exhibit takes that idea further.

Because there are so many different artists with diverse backgrounds and methods, the museum shows a plethora of mediums with nothing in common other than the objective of the artist.

It is interesting to see what each artist considers to be a portrait, whether it is in photography, film or prints.

Unlike many common portraits, these depict not only the subject artist, but also the relationship that he/she has with the painter; what a certain artist represents to another is shown through the artwork.

In many exhibits, one can only see the "glamour" of the art world.

As free as artists can be through their art, there are always certain restrictions as to how far they will demonstrate their opinion on certain subjects.

In Likeness, the viewer has a glimpse of what the hidden dramas of the art world are and see pieces that were once kept from public eye.

As a result, the exhibit becomes not only personal for the artist, but for the observer as well.

The exhibit holds more than fifty paintings representing prominent contemporary artists such as Andy Warhol, David Hockney and Deiter Roth by their admirers. Included are works by David Armstrong, AA Bronson, Bruce La Bruce, Chuck Close, Tacita Dean, Sam Durant, Nan Goldin, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Richard Hamilton, Mike Kelley, Sean Landers, Robert Mapplethorpe, Richard Misrach, Dave Muller, Paul Noble, Julian Opie, Elizabeth Peyton, Sigmar Polke, Richard Prince, Wolfgang Tillmans, James Welling, and others. One of the most impressive paintings present at the exhibit is "Lyle" (2003) by the photorealist Chuck Close.

This silkscreen was made with more than 140 colors divided into different squares that from a distance create a perfect portrait showing even the smallest detail in the subject's face.

Another piece is the enlarged "Playboy" ad of Vidal Sassoon by Richard Misrach.

This satiric print shows a fractured Andy Warhol since the piece was used as target practice in the desert. What "Likeness" lacks in scope - such as anything by Warhol himself - it makes up for in its focus.

Although the amount of quality work is not especially high, this is an intense and provocative exhibit. The Institute of Contemporary Art is at 955 Boylston Street.

The museum is accessible through the Green Line of the B, C or D trains to the Hynes Convention Center/ ICA stop.

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