By Bret Liebendorfer
There'll be plenty of witty references alluding to oversized egos during Martin Schoeller's exhibition, Close Up. His subject matter is, after all, big heads. But if there's anything absent in these intimate portraits of the powerful and famous, it's and ego. The exhibit is the German's first major American show, despite the fact he's been living in the U.S. since the early '90's, working for magazines like The New Yorker. Schoeller's work is unique because of his over-indulgence on a key feature, like the eyes. Thanks to his unique neon lighting, even the most lifeless person appears passionate. While the subjects consist entirely of mundane celebrities ranging from Angelina Jolie to Bill Clinton (who isn't sick of these two by now?), they do offer us a side of the person we've never seen before. In a world saturated by images, especially of celebrities, that's incredible.