Aliza Nisenbaum (b. 1977, Mexico City) is a Mexican-born artist who lives and works in Queens, New York. She received both her BFA (2001) and MFA (2005) from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Known for her richly detailed portraits, Nisenbaum builds deep, intimate relationships with her subjects, primarily immigrants and underserved communities. Her paintings reveal the inner lives of her sitters and often depict them in personal, reflective environments that celebrate their individuality and cultural heritage. Nisenbaum’s interest in portraiture began in 2012 while teaching at Tania Bruguera’s Immigrant Movement International (IMI), where she painted the immigrant families she met. Her approach, inspired by Emmanuel Levinas’ philosophy of face-to-face ethical encounters, integrates social work and community engagement, fostering meaningful, long-term connections. Through her portraits, such as Pedacito de Sol (2022) and group works like The Ones who Make it Run (2022), she honors her subjects’ full humanity, presenting them as unique individuals within their lived environments

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