100 Faces of War, a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian, features 100 oil portraits of Americans who went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, by artist Matt Mitchell. Representing a cross section of home states, military branches, jobs, and backgrounds, every portrait includes a candid, first-hand account of war. 100 Faces of War is an exhibition organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with artist Matt Mitchell.
In conjunction with the 100 Faces of War exhibit, New Americans Museum has curated a special exhibit, Near/Far: Portraits of Local Immigrant Veterans which highlights the service and sacrifice of immigrant veterans. Bi-national photographer David Maung worked with NAM to create this exhibit with a San Diego lens. Maung is a photojournalist who has worked for the Smithsonian, The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, and News Week. His previous work has focused on bi-national social issues including a portrait series of deported immigrant veterans. The exhibit features local immigrant veterans and their stories, capturing the diverse histories and backgrounds that make up our local community of veterans who are immigrants.
These powerful exhibits bring personal stories to life through the eyes of soldiers and citizens who participated in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters, giving voice to the one percent of Americans that volunteer to defend the 99 percent. Featuring Americans from every state, with some born abroad, the subjects represent a cross section of those who served and reflect a variety of military branches, job descriptions, and personal backgrounds. These unforgettable images and stories captured for the public are available to view in person at the museum galleries by appointment.
Learn more about Matt Mitchell and the project.
The 100 Faces project was created from 2005-2014 shows a cross section of the Americans who have gone to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. One hundred people were chosen to represent the statistics of the American involvement in these conflicts. Each person met the artist to have their portrait painted. Then that person chose what they wanted to say next to their portrait. They could choose to say whatever they wanted.
