Unfamiliar, Familiar Faces

Unfamiliar, Familiar Faces presents Blake Ritenour’s exploration of deeply felt and universally shared human emotions through charcoal and graphite. Drawing inspiration from people in his life as well as artists he admires, Ritenour reflects on personal experiences to convey the intensity, vulnerability, and complexity held within each portrait.

Throughout the exhibition, Ritenour turns to the familiar faces around him to illuminate the emotional highs and lows that shape every human life. His meticulously rendered charcoal drawings capture pores, shadows, reflections, and subtle imperfections, details that transform an “unfamiliar” subject into a mirror of our own interior worlds. The result is an environment that feels both intimate and communal, reminding viewers that these emotions belong to all of us.

This body of work continues Ritenour’s ongoing interest in self-acceptance and in the quiet power of preserving a moment. It also reflects his drive to grow, challenge himself, and embrace new mediums and modes of expression. Ultimately, Unfamiliar, Familiar Faces invites viewers to recognize themselves in the work and to leave with the quiet assurance that they are not alone.

Artist Bio

Blake Ritenour (b. 1995, Fort Worth, Texas) is a charcoal artist and interdisciplinary creative whose work investigates the visual expression of universal emotions. Working primarily with a camera and charcoal, Ritenour creates intimate portraits that explore collective human experience through moments of vulnerability, reflection, and connection. His practice is rooted in community, drawing inspiration from close friends who often serve as his models, and aims to evoke in viewers the same emotional resonance he feels while making each piece.

Ritenour has developed his practice through independent study and experimentation, including time at the Dallas Art Institute in 2017, and has previously shared his work through informal, community-centered installations. Unfamiliar, Familiar Faces marks his first public exhibition.

He currently lives and works in Denver, Colorado, where he continues to expand his portrait practice, deepen his exploration of the human experience, and honor the people who shape his life and artistic vision.

Thank you!