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The Artist Project

The Artist Project: Y.Z. Kami

Artist Y.Z. Kami reflects on Egyptian mummy portraits in this episode of The Artist Project.
3 min. watch
From March 2015 to June 2016, we invited 120 artists—local, national, and global—to choose individual works of art or galleries that sparked their imaginations. In this online series, artists reflect on what art is, what inspires them from across 5,000 years of art, and in so doing, they reveal the power of a museum and The Met.

"Always in front of a human face you have an emotional reaction."

Artist Y.Z. Kami reflects on Egyptian mummy portraits in this episode of The Artist Project—an online series in which artists respond to works of art in The Met collection.

About the Artist
Y.Z. Kami, born in 1956, is an Iranian painter.

Y. Z. Kami (American, born Iran, Teheran 1956)

Man with Violet Eyes, 2013–2014

Oil on linen; 108 × 72 in. (207.3 × 182.9 cm). Courtesy of the artist and Gagosian Gallery © Y. Z. Kami

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Art Mentioned

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Mummy with an Inserted Panel Portrait of a Youth, Mummified human body with linen and mummification material; panel portrait: encaustic on limewood
Mummy with an Inserted Panel Portrait of a Youth
A.D. 80–100
Portrait of a Youth with a Surgical Cut in one Eye, Encaustic on limewood
Portrait of a Youth with a Surgical Cut in one Eye
A.D. 190–210
Portrait of a thin-faced, bearded man, Encaustic on limewood
Portrait of a thin-faced, bearded man
A.D. 160–180
Portrait of a man with a mole on his nose, Encaustic on limewood
Portrait of a man with a mole on his nose
A.D. 130–150
Portrait of a young woman in red, Encaustic on limewood with gold leaf
Portrait of a young woman in red
A.D. 90–120
Portrait of a young woman with a gilded wreath, Encaustic on wood with gold leaf
Portrait of a young woman with a gilded wreath
A.D. 120–140
Portrait of the Boy Eutyches, Encaustic on wood
Portrait of the Boy Eutyches
A.D. 100–150