Known for her sensitive depictions of subjects who were not traditionally represented in large-scale portraiture, Shirley Gorelick developed her own approach to figurative painting. Born in Brooklyn, she pursued art from a young age; at five years old she won her first art contest. Gorelick went on to complete a BA in art at Brooklyn College in 1944 and an MA in psychology at Columbia University’s Teachers College in 1947.

After extensive exploration of modernist abstraction, Gorelick distinguished herself in the 1960s and 1970s with nuanced depictions of close friends and family, which she called “psychological portraiture.” Unabashed realism defined her approach. Rather than flatter, the artist captured her subjects in informal poses, emphasizing subtle gestures and facial expressions that imbued her portraits with a sense of immediacy and relatability. Some of Gorelick’s best-known works from this period feature her friend Libby Ourlicht, a Black model and activist whose individuality and personal strength are revealed through carefully observed age lines and variations in skin tone.

A lifelong advocate for progressive causes, Gorelick was also active in the feminist movement. In 1973, she co-founded the Central Hall Artists Gallery, a women’s art cooperative based in Port Washington, New York. That same year, she joined the SOHO20 Gallery, an influential all-women’s art gallery in New York City.