Exploring Contemporary Artists Engaged in Abstract Photography

Liz Nielsen - Outdoor Concert, 2022 - Miles McEnery Gallery

Exploring Contemporary Artists Engaged in Abstract Photography

he historical interplay between photography and abstraction dates back to the inception of the medium itself. Noteworthy instances of this relationship include early experiments with cyanotypes, Man Ray's innovative "Rayographs," László Moholy-Nagy's photograms, Aaron Siskind's macrophotography, and an array of other pioneering works. Presently, the inclination towards abstract photography persists worldwide. Artists are actively creating pieces that encompass a diverse array of techniques and utilize color in ways that often echo the aesthetics commonly associated with painting.

In an era where capturing and disseminating images is effortless and instantaneous, it’s only logical for artists to gravitate towards the more intricate dimensions of photography—those that cannot be confined to a mere phone screen. These are visuals that demand intricate processes, incorporating layers that can be either physical or conceptual. This exploration delves into a selection of contemporary photographers who are harnessing the potential of photography as a means of artistic abstraction. Their work spans diverse subjects, ranging from the natural world to architectural marvels and beyond.

Liz Nielsen: Crafting Abstract Visual Symphony with Light

Liz Nielsen, an American artist, captivates with artwork that conjures a fusion of sea glass and precious gemstones. Her creations boast vivid jewel-toned shades arranged in forms reminiscent of nature’s elegance and abstract allure. Nielsen, a self-proclaimed “photographer whose medium is light,” aptly dubs her pieces as light paintings. It’s worth noting that her artistic process diverges from conventional photography; her images materialize not through a camera lens but within the analog color darkroom, where she exposes light-sensitive paper and employs traditional color chemistry to process it.

Drawing inspiration from luminaries like Man Ray and Moholy-Nagy, Nielsen rejuvenates the photogram technique by infusing it with a vibrant spectrum of colors. For her negatives, she ingeniously assembles a mosaic of gels, which she then projects onto a negative chromogenic paper. This ingenious approach gives birth to her exhilarating color palette, as the hues undergo an inverted transformation during the development phase. Fueled by an inquisitive spirit, Nielsen finds her muse in physics, color theory, philosophy, and the interplay of light within the confines of the darkroom. These influences coalesce into captivating visual interpretations that define her remarkable body of work.

Bryan Graf: Weaving Photographic Narratives of Nature and Space

Embarking on a visual journey through the landscapes of Maine and New Jersey, Bryan Graf, an American artist, masterfully crafts photographic compositions that explore the interplay between elegance and decay. His artistry unfolds through intricate manipulations of nature and space, providing commentary on the dual forces shaping our surroundings.

Graf’s images are a tapestry of elements: leaves entwined with ethereal light projections, juxtaposed against screens and photograms. These elements are more than mere visuals; they serve as conduits for probing inquiries into the essence of place and its multifaceted significance.

His creative process is diverse and adaptive, ranging from intentional film exposures to nuanced digital manipulations, and frequently a harmonious blend of both. Graf’s artistic endeavor is a convergence of classical alternative photographic techniques and an embrace of the contemporary. Amidst this creative blend, he aptly expresses, “the harmonious tension between the sensory encounter of a place, the profound emotions it stirs within us, and the interpretive filters that mold our perception of the landscape fuel my artistic vision.”

Graf’s contemplation of the environment serves as a metaphorical lens for growth, encompassing both tangible and metaphorical dimensions. He envisions his artistic practice as an “optical exploration of the multifaceted nature of reality,” a concept that delves into the intricate layers of existence. In his profound meditations, he uncovers the intricate threads that weave together the fabric of our surroundings, presenting a visual narrative that resonates on both intellectual and emotional levels.

Niko Luoma: Challenging Photographic Boundaries with Artistic Alchemy

Throughout his artistic journey, Niko Luoma, a visionary artist hailing from Finland, has delved deeply into the myriad alternative processes that photography offers. Whether through the lens of multiple exposure, light manipulation, or collage, he embraces a dynamic exploration while simultaneously honoring the rich tapestry of photographic history.

In his evocative series “Adaptations,” Luoma masterfully reinterprets timeless masterpieces from art history through his own experimental lens. Famed works such as Marcel Duchamp’s “Nude Descending a Staircase” (1912) metamorphose into vibrant geometric celebrations, while David Hockney’s “Peter Getting Out of Nick’s Pool” (1966) is reborn as an abstract amalgamation of shapes and hues, a subtle nod to its origin.

Luoma’s latest opus, “Illusion of Now,” thrusts viewers into a world of colored light captured through multiple exposures onto a solitary negative. These images intertwine harmoniously, devoid of a distinct beginning or conclusion, inviting varied perceptions. He eloquently explains, “The beauty lies in their ambiguity, as they offer multiple entry points and possess no definite conclusion. They emerge as outcomes of systematic experimentation, transforming the negative into a testament of its own realization.”

Niko Luoma’s artistic alchemy defies conventions, forging a profound connection between the past and the present. His creative voyage stands as a testament to his unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of photography and his innate ability to weave together intricate visual narratives that resonate on profound levels.

Christine Wilkinson: Crafting Abstract Narratives of Light and Form

“From a single photograph or a mere fragment thereof—a glimmer of car headlights or the sun’s embrace through a window,” so begins the creative process of British artist Christine Wilkinson. She eloquently captures her artistic approach, where the initial imagery serves as a springboard for transformation. Through digital manipulation, she orchestrates a deliberate blurring, reducing the image to an assembly of random pixels, raw material waiting to be sculpted.

Wilkinson’s fascination revolves around the essence of the process itself—the continuous reduction that births an entirely new form. Each composition traverses a realm where manipulation and diverse mediums converge. Scanners, digital cameras, photography software, and even pencils join forces to mold her artistic vision. This intricate interplay yields works that wield authority and audacity, entrenched in abstraction and minimalist allure. Swathes of colors and tones meld into captivating, enigmatic voids, commanding attention.

Her creations dwell at the crossroads of painting and photography, an artistic nexus where she ventures into abstract explorations of shape, light, and color. Through her eyes, light evolves into form—an intangible substance, an ephemeral instance of color and radiance. Wilkinson’s artistry not only transcends the boundaries of medium but also transcends the tangible, inviting viewers to navigate a realm where perceptions of reality shift and morph. Each piece encapsulates a visual narrative of profound innovation, unveiling the inherent beauty residing in the convergence of art and technology.

Pedro Correa: Capturing Impressionistic Flair Through Unfiltered Lenses

Pedro Correa, shaped by his heritage as the child of a painter, infuses his photography with a profound reverence for Impressionism’s allure. This artistic lineage weaves its influence into his craft, resulting in captivating visuals that often mirror the aesthetics of painting. Notably, Correa chooses to preserve the integrity of his images by eschewing digital manipulations, allowing them to emanate solely from his adept lens. His creations become a fusion of the decisive moment and an alternative focus, a marriage that accentuates their authenticity.

Central to Correa’s artistic exploration is an unwavering fascination with urban existence. His oeuvre is a quest to unveil what he beautifully terms the “subtle human presence exuding out of urban landscapes,” a synthesis reminiscent of both Claude Monet and Lee Friedlander. Elements like scratches, screens, or rain-kissed windows seamlessly meld into his lens, akin to brushstrokes adorning a canvas.

For Correa, encapsulating not just a fleeting moment but also the emotions it evokes stands as paramount—an attribute he equates with the ethos of the Impressionists. His academic journey, including a pursuit of a PhD in image processing, shed light on the intriguing concept that stripping rational information from an image could potentially intensify emotional resonance. This insight deeply influences his present work, guiding him towards crafting experiences that resonate on a profoundly personal level, much like the emotions ignited by a masterful Impressionist painting.

Fabiola Menchelli: Pioneering Photographic Boundaries Through Abstract Explorations

Fabiola Menchelli, a visionary Mexican artist, has embarked on an artistic odyssey deeply entrenched in the realm of photographic abstraction. Her journey is one of relentless experimentation, a quest to push the boundaries of the medium to unveil its latent potential. Through her creative lens, she endeavors to broaden our perspectives on photography, its narratives, processes, and its profound relationship with reality.

In her recent series titled “Dark Moves,” Menchelli elevates her photogram endeavors to sculptural heights. This artistic evolution involves imprinting images onto stainless steel, which are then gracefully contorted within the darkroom. She employs intricate techniques, folding the photographic paper and exposing it to a spectrum of color filters. She ventures further, occasionally infusing the prints with the ethereal touch of solarization during the development process. This series thrives on improvisation, deliberately sidestepping preconceived notions of what an image should adhere to—even when it’s an abstract creation born from her own ingenuity. Throughout, her unwavering commitment to experimental color and form remains steadfast, consistently challenging not only our perceptions of photography but also the very essence of what an image can evolve into, both in terms of its chemical composition and structural embodiment.

Fabiola Menchelli’s artistic voyage radiates with innovation, as she charts uncharted territories within the vast landscape of abstraction. Her exploration transcends artistic conventions, inviting us to explore the outermost realms of photographic possibility, while her creations resonate as testament to her dedication to redefining the visual language of photography.

Galina Kurlat: Exploring Photographic Horizons Through Historical Processes

Galina Kurlat, originally from Russia, has carved a distinctive path throughout her artistic journey by immersing herself in historical photographic methods. Her creative realm spans the tangible realms of portraiture and ventures boldly into the abstract. Rooted in the thematic triad of “identity, intimacy, and uncertainty,” Kurlat’s artistry delves into the very essence of these concepts—sometimes capturing them directly, while at other times casting enigmatic shadows that echo their presence. Her creative repertoire traverses diverse techniques, from distressed Polaroids to the evocative allure of wet colloid prints.

In her most recent opus, the series titled “Vestiges,” Kurlat weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of abstract lumen photograms. These creations bear the imprint of her essence, as she incorporates her own saliva, breastmilk, breath, and even blood, alongside traditional photographic chemicals. Within this collection, Kurlat masterfully guides her vision, transcending conventional representation. She articulates, “The female form, besieged by societal pressures and objectification, emerges as an embodiment of mark-making and surface disruptions on photographic paper.”

The series pulsates with an enchanting palette—shades of plum, pink, orange, peach, yellow, and white—illustrating Kurlat’s ongoing commitment to intertwining her being with her creations. Her work becomes a realm of exploration, pushing the boundaries of photography’s capacity, while embracing its inherent imperfections and fragility. In every brushstroke of light and shadow, Kurlat’s dedication to her craft is palpable, an exquisite testament to her endeavor to transcend conventions and unearth the uncharted dimensions of artistic expression.

Paul Snell: Crafting a New Reality Through Color and Form

The artistry of Australian creator Paul Snell bursts forth with a kaleidoscope of vibrant hues, ensnaring observers with their arresting tones. Yet, beneath this resplendent chromatic surface, Snell’s creations unfold into an intricate tapestry of depth and meaning. His process involves meticulously curating images, subjecting them to digital manipulation that whittles them down to their core colors and forms. This transformative journey, as Snell aptly describes, births an entirely novel reality, a realm that leverages its original imagery to forge an entirely fresh encounter.

For Snell, this encounter takes shape in various manifestations—be it electric concentric circles, the ebb and flow of a sunset’s hues, or the expanse of a richly saturated tableau. His artistry orchestrates a symphony of connections and disconnections, simultaneous construction and deconstruction. Rooted in these paradoxes, Snell’s oeuvre delves deep into the realm of transformation. “The essence of my work lies in the metamorphosis of photographic production modes, the manipulation and exploration of data to birth novel visual structures,” Snell pens. This artistic endeavor materializes through rhythmic repetitions, calculated pairings, artful overlaps, enigmatic reversals, and meticulous sequencing that dissects and investigates the nuances of specific color relationships. Through these intricate maneuvers, Snell seeks not only to craft a visual spectacle but to forge a sensory comprehension of the physical object itself—a quest that infuses his work with a palpable essence.

Paul Snell’s creations transcend the realm of mere imagery, inviting viewers to navigate a multifaceted narrative of transformation and exploration. His work resonates as a testament to his unwavering pursuit of innovation, a constant quest to redefine the boundaries of artistic expression through the potent synergy of color, form, and concept.

Teresa K. Morrison

Meet Teresa K. Morrison, an accomplished American artist whose creative journey unfolds through a captivating series of lensless photographs. With a distinct artistic approach, Morrison delves into the realms of albumen prints and the enigmatic chemigram technique. Her work is an exploration of the intersection between nature’s treasures and photographic processes.

Drawing inspiration from the organic world, Morrison employs a fascinating method. She gathers elements such as weeds, herbs, leaves, and even honey—gifts from nature’s bounty. These natural objects become integral to her artistic process. In the dimly lit confines of her darkroom, she immerses these objects in developer or fixer solutions. Subsequently, they are delicately placed onto photosensitive paper. This paper possesses a remarkable history, aged between 30 to 100 years, infusing an element of unpredictability and novelty into Morrison’s creations. She remarks on this collaboration with the vintage paper, embracing the unforeseen beauty that emerges from their partnership.

Morrison’s subjects often originate from her own garden—sorrel, rye grass, bitter lettuce, and dandelion among them. These specimens, when placed onto the paper, undergo a transformative process. Shades of light and darkness dance across the surface, influenced by the paper’s age, composition, and intricate response to the artistic processes. Morrison’s profound artistic philosophy is beautifully encapsulated in her New Year’s Instagram post: “May we each defy factory settings and depreciative neglect to find unimagined purpose and expression.” This sentiment underscores the depth and long-term impact of her photographic approach.

Teresa K. Morrison’s artistry beckons viewers to contemplate the symbiosis of nature, time, and photographic ingenuity. Through her lensless photographs, she captures not only the essence of her subjects but also the essence of art’s boundless possibilities.

Francisco Tavoni

Francisco Tavoni, an artist originally hailing from Venezuela and now based in Australia, orchestrates a mesmerizing interplay between reality and imagination, light and form, color and warmth within his artistic endeavors. Through his lens, a captivating narrative unfolds—a narrative that encapsulates his profound connection to emotions, places, and human connections. Tavoni’s work is an exploration of affection, not solely as an emotion but as a force that binds homes, individuals, and the inner self.

At the heart of his creative pursuit lies a relentless quest for authenticity. This quest takes shape through his imagery, where bodies and fabrics entwine in a delicate dance. These elements, while concealing their true identities, give rise to potent visual representations of a harmonious humanity. Tavoni employs the medium of chromogenic images printed on cotton to lend an additional layer of depth to his creations. Each image emerges through a fusion of innovative techniques—hues manipulated by colored lens filters, translucent silks adorned with intricate patterns, and the dynamic interplay of colored strobe lights.

Tavoni’s artistic journey is intricately woven with his past experiences. He once ventured into the realm of fashion, a chapter of his life that kindled his understanding of the symbiotic relationship between color and fabric. Later, his explorations led him to the captivating world of light, undoubtedly influenced by his involvement in club dancing.

In the rich tapestry of Francisco Tavoni’s work, the threads of emotion, human bonds, and vibrant aesthetics converge to craft a narrative that transcends geographical boundaries. His art invites us to delve into the intricate layers of our shared humanity, where genuine connection and vivid expression intertwine in a mesmerizing dance of creativity.

Luuk de Haan

Luuk de Haan, a visionary photographic artist from the Netherlands, embarks on a journey that defies conventions, crafting a realm where geometry seamlessly intertwines with the realms of imagination. His creations are more than mere photographs; they are singular entities, each print existing in its own distinct form. De Haan’s art resides in the enchanting space where geometry converges with fantasy, transcending the boundaries of mere representation.

Renowned writer Derek Horton aptly characterized de Haan’s work as documents of their own genesis rather than mere reflections of an external world. In a harmonious fusion of analog and digital artistry, de Haan’s images are born. He masterfully blends vintage photography’s alternative techniques with the precision of digital manipulation. His creative process involves capturing digital structures, meticulously crafted on the screen, through the lens of analog cameras. This marriage of hardware and software results in an artistic symphony that is both visually captivating and intellectually stimulating.

Beyond his role as an artist, de Haan is a composer, drawing inspiration not only from artistic luminaries like Ellsworth Kelly but also musical innovators like Steve Reich. This eclectic influence translates into his art, infusing it with the essence of minimalism—a balance between simplicity and profundity. The outcome is a collection of works that radiate vibrancy while maintaining an understated elegance. De Haan’s art is a tapestry of enigma and intricacy, existing in a fluid state between the realms of presence and evanescence.

Writer Vince Aletti, in The New Yorker, encapsulated de Haan’s creations as existing “somewhere between present and vanishing.” In this space, Luuk de Haan beckons viewers to embark on an expedition that transcends the confines of the tangible, inviting them to explore the captivating dance between geometry and fantasy, where each piece is a unique testament to the art of creation itself.

Exploring Contemporary Artists Engaged in Abstract Photography