Photography can be polarizing, but isn’t that what makes it so intriguing?
We all know that art has a way of igniting debates and diverse opinions, and the world of photography is no exception. It’s usually not the first medium that comes to mind when people think of fine art, frequently overshadowed by more conventional forms like painting and sculpture. However, photography is an art form in its own right, offering a distinctive way to capture and express the world around us. The graphic works introduce unique perspectives that add depth and character to a space.
Explore some of the photographers and works we’re grateful to feature in our collection, available to CoCollect members. Inquire here to learn more.
Pelle Cass
Pelle Cass embraces both order and chaos when it comes to photography. He intentionally introduces clutter into his compositions by meticulously planning every element within the frame. Comparing his process to woodworking or needlepoint, this technique is known as “still time-lapse.” Cass maintains the appearance of a photograph, even as he manipulates it. His work blurs the lines between order and chaos, adding a unique dimension to photography.
Image referenced above.
Chuck Ramirez
Chuck Ramirez’s art draws from modern advertising and packaging design, while delving into concepts like mortality and consumerism. Using typography and graphic design techniques, Ramirez reinterprets everyday objects into socio-political topics, all the while maintaining a touch of humor in his work. He finds beauty in the discarded, capturing images of full garbage bags, wilting flowers, or battered piñatas. Some of his earlier work has discussed his Latino identity, queer topics, and the challenges of the AIDS crisis.
Karen Navarro
Karen Navarro’s work draws from her immigrant and Indigenous heritage from South America. Her multimedia approach combines unconventional portraiture, collage, text, and sometimes sculpture to explore the complex interplay of race, representation, and belonging. Navarro will utilize digital photography as a base, often transforming images into three-dimensional pieces. Her works offer a unique perspective that mirrors her journey of reconstructing and understanding her own identity.
Denise Prince
Denise Prince has a unique approach to fashion photography. Similar to commercials, her work includes hyper-stylization and highly saturated colors. She discusses the idea that advertisements aren’t just about the products; they insinuate that consumers lack something and buying the product will give them the idealized world depicted. Prince intends to disrupt this by using high-fashion settings, stiff model poses, or classical backdrops, drawing connections between traditional European painting and the world of commercial photography.
Masayoshi Sukita
Masayoshi Sukita is a Japanese photographer best known for his impressive lens on musicians from Jimi Hedrix and Iggy Pop to David Bowie. Enamored with the punk rock aesthetic, Sukita worked with musicians all over the world, often photographing their album covers. However, Sukita’s 40+ year collaboration with David Bowie began after seeing him perform in 1972. After accumulating years of images, Sukita shared them with the rest of the world, wanting to keep David Bowie’s memory alive through his photographs. Sukita continued his photography career in other genres, working in advertising and fashion as well.
Minta Maria
Minta Maria’s artworks explore memory, tradition, and the fragility of information. Her unique process includes crafting intricate compositions with various papers and materials, binding them using tape, needles, thread, or fishing wire. Then placing the compositions between two light-stands, she lies on the ground beneath, holds her camera, and waits for the wind to shape her creations. Allowing nature to breathe life into her work, Minta Maria’s work prompts us to appreciate life’s subtleties. Read more about Minta Maria here.
Randal Ford
Randal Ford has captured an extensive array of animals in-studio, mastering the art of seizing that split-second perfect portrait. His process begins with meticulous in-studio photography and expertly executed lighting, using only neutral backgrounds to eliminate distractions. This deconstructive approach to portraiture allows you to solely focus on the animal itself. For Ford, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, as he purses detail, creative collaboration, and timeless aesthetics.
When you bring photography into your home, you’re inviting diverse stories, emotions, and perspectives to become a part of your life – just like any other fine artwork.
