David Benjamin Sherry Work | Artist Statement & CV | Return to Artist List
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Artist Statement
My work uses photography, historically the medium used to explicate reality, as a departure from the known or accepted. The images reference the traditional photographic hierarchies of landscape and portraiture, yet I rely on a subversion of the expected, creating pictures of interior landscape via a sublimated view of one’s place within the natural world. Color is key to my vision, used as a vehicle to heighten the photographs’ emotive qualities, and as conduit to more freely interpretive modes of perception.
Recently I’ve approached these topics by exploring the materiality of photography itself. Celebrating the limits of the conventional photographic process, I have been collaging and painting on exposed and unexposed photographic papers to make abstracted geometric paintings and collages. In my most recent body of work titled “Chromogenic” (2011-), I am constructing still lives with various painted papers, woods, and cardboards and photographing these assemblages. Once printed, I then paint over areas of the photograph, using the images’ inherent geometry as my guide. There is a level of chance operation in this mode of creation, a freedom from photography’s rigidity as a time-based or documentary platform. The images become fragments of larger narratives, interacting with each other as well as with the viewer’s own notions of symbolism. Instead of portraying a purely explicative or descriptive scenario, this new form of image-making allows for a splintered view of reality, reveling in the abandonment of specificity’s autocratic rule over the photographic document. The goal of these assemblages is a more poetic view of the minutiae of perception, free from the labors of traditional representation – a different form of interior landscape.
The monochrome remains a recurring theme within all of my photographs and recent collages, illustrating the notion of an imposed limit, of erasing one’s self visually from his work. The pieces “Solar System In Fire System” and “Solar System in Air System” are created around an ordered system of depiction, yet the form then disappears in the monochrome. This futility of order is part of my escape from the conventions of the photograph as illustrative tool, as the pictorial limits of the monochrome swallow the ostensible subject, much in the way my earlier landscape works were ornately imagined environments of ineffectuality.
The following works are a selection from a body of work titled “Form Forming Formation” (2011). To make this series, I created very large plaster sculptures and pigmented the plaster to then match their backdrops. The sculptural forms were created from memory, slowly emerging as self-portraits. The titles allude to the various colors, with tangentially related words lending an open ended poetic interpretation to the forms.
The earlier work I’ve included here is from a series titled “Birth In Futureverse” (2009-2010). Photographing national parks, close friends, strange objects and myself, these images interact to represent a kind of exploding vision of my own surroundings. These images can be seen as the beginning of the continuum which I’m evolving in my current work, using traditional photographic processes in search of my own reductive mechanics of environmental and experiential self-portraiture.
My work uses photography, historically the medium used to explicate reality, as a departure from the known or accepted. The images reference the traditional photographic hierarchies of landscape and portraiture, yet I rely on a subversion of the expected, creating pictures of interior landscape via a sublimated view of one’s place within the natural world. Color is key to my vision, used as a vehicle to heighten the photographs’ emotive qualities, and as conduit to more freely interpretive modes of perception.
Recently I’ve approached these topics by exploring the materiality of photography itself. Celebrating the limits of the conventional photographic process, I have been collaging and painting on exposed and unexposed photographic papers to make abstracted geometric paintings and collages. In my most recent body of work titled “Chromogenic” (2011-), I am constructing still lives with various painted papers, woods, and cardboards and photographing these assemblages. Once printed, I then paint over areas of the photograph, using the images’ inherent geometry as my guide. There is a level of chance operation in this mode of creation, a freedom from photography’s rigidity as a time-based or documentary platform. The images become fragments of larger narratives, interacting with each other as well as with the viewer’s own notions of symbolism. Instead of portraying a purely explicative or descriptive scenario, this new form of image-making allows for a splintered view of reality, reveling in the abandonment of specificity’s autocratic rule over the photographic document. The goal of these assemblages is a more poetic view of the minutiae of perception, free from the labors of traditional representation – a different form of interior landscape.
The monochrome remains a recurring theme within all of my photographs and recent collages, illustrating the notion of an imposed limit, of erasing one’s self visually from his work. The pieces “Solar System In Fire System” and “Solar System in Air System” are created around an ordered system of depiction, yet the form then disappears in the monochrome. This futility of order is part of my escape from the conventions of the photograph as illustrative tool, as the pictorial limits of the monochrome swallow the ostensible subject, much in the way my earlier landscape works were ornately imagined environments of ineffectuality.
The following works are a selection from a body of work titled “Form Forming Formation” (2011). To make this series, I created very large plaster sculptures and pigmented the plaster to then match their backdrops. The sculptural forms were created from memory, slowly emerging as self-portraits. The titles allude to the various colors, with tangentially related words lending an open ended poetic interpretation to the forms.
The earlier work I’ve included here is from a series titled “Birth In Futureverse” (2009-2010). Photographing national parks, close friends, strange objects and myself, these images interact to represent a kind of exploding vision of my own surroundings. These images can be seen as the beginning of the continuum which I’m evolving in my current work, using traditional photographic processes in search of my own reductive mechanics of environmental and experiential self-portraiture.
CV
1981 Born in Woodstock, New York
Lives and works in Brooklyn New York
Education:
2007 MFA Photography, Yale School of Art, New Haven CT
2003 BFA Photography, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI
Solo Exhibitions:
2011 OHWOW Los Angeles CA, “Form Forming Formation”
2010 Fireplace Projects, East Hampton NY, “Always Now”
2009 Schlechtriem Brothers, Berlin, Germany, “Birth In Futureverse”
2008 Andre Schlechtriem Contemporary, Berlin, Germany,
“Sensate Transcendency”
2006 Galerie Lisa Ruyter, Vienna, “But Take Me
Me To The Haven Of Your Bed Was
Something That You Never Said”
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2011
Rachel Uffner, NY “Summer Whites”
Mount Tremper Arts, Mount Tremper NY, “Productive Steps”,
White Columns, NY Benefit
Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, Colorado “The Anxiety of Photography”
The Garage Museum, Moscow, Russia “New York Minute”
2010
OHWOW, Flagler Memorial Island, Miami “The Island”
OHWOW, Miami FL, “It Ain’t Fair 2010”
Galerie Olivier Robert, Paris, France “Group Show”
REFERENCE Art Gallery, Richmond, VA “Eli Manning”
Skylight Projects, New York, NY “Translation (Portraiture)”
Joshua Tree, CA, “Artists Swapmeet”
233 Mott Street, New York, NY “RE:FORM School”
Steven Kasher Gallery, New York, NY “Inspired”
211 Elizabeth Street Gallery, New York, NY “Worth”
The Hole, New York, NY “Not Quite Open for Business”
PS1/MOMA Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, NY “Greater New York 2010”
Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York, NY “A Word Like Tomorrow Wears Things Out”
Philadelphia Photo Art Center, Philadelphia, PA ” Group Show”
211 Elizabeth Street Gallery, New York, NY “Objects that Love You Back”
Jack Hanley Gallery, New York, NY “Is A Rustling Petticoat Enough To Bring It Down To Earth?”
2009
Andrew Edlin Galery, New York, NY “OoO”
X Initiative, New York, NY “Blind Spot Auction”
Colette, Paris, France curated by Rodarte
OHWOW, Miami FL, “It Aint Fair 2009”
“Mine But Not Me” Miami, FL
New York Photography Festival, Brooklyn,
Bellwether, New York, NY “A Song For Those In Search Of What They Came With”
2008
Cohan and Leslie, New York, NY “Photographic Works”
Phillips De Pury, London UK “Art and Entrepreneurship”
Andre Schlechtriem Contemporary, New York, NY “Sonata for Executioner and Various Young Women”
ASS Gallery, New York, NY “I want a little sugar in my bowl”
Sloan Fine Art, New York, NY “Love is a Cannibal”
Goff +Rosenthal, Berlin, Germany “The Dulcet Clime of the Bedchamber”
Oliver Kamm 5BE Gallery, New York, NY “If I told you you were beautiful, would you date me on the regular?”
Credit Suisse- Traveling Group Show- Dubai/New York/Berlin/Moscow/Geneva/Milan/Madrid/London “Art and Entrepreneurship”
Chelsea Hotel Room 103 New York, NY “Last night at the Chelsea”
2007
Andrew Kreps Gallery, New York NY, “Fractured in Aspect”
Green Hall Gallery, New Haven CT, MFA Thesis exhibition
Joshua Tree, CA, “Artists Swap Meet”
Lundbeck Austria, Vienna, “Psychic Realities”
2006
Green Hall Gallery, New Haven CT, 2nd year MFA exhibition
Mitchell-Innes & Nash, New York, NY, “A Rabbit as King of Ghosts”
China Art Objects, Los Angeles, CA, “Smoking Mirrors”
High Desert Test Sites, Joshua Tree, CA, “Artists Swap Meet”
Lisa Ruyter, Vienna, The Vienna Art Fair
Team Gallery, New York NY, The Armory Show
2005
Green Hall Gallery, New Haven CT, 1st year MFA exhibition
Team Gallery, New York, NY, “5 X U”
Spencer Brownstone Gallery, New York, NY, “Red White and Blue”
The Artist Network, New York, NY, “Temperature”
2003
Woods Gerry Gallery, Providence, RI, RISD Senior Invitational
Red Eye Gallery, Providence RI, Senior Show “For A Minute I Lost Myself”
Publications and Catalouges:
Anxiety of Photography, Aspen Art Museum
Mountains, Rizzoli NY
Greater New York, PS1 MOMA 2010
ITS TIME, 2009 Damiani Bologna IT
1981 Born in Woodstock, New York
Lives and works in Brooklyn New York
Education:
2007 MFA Photography, Yale School of Art, New Haven CT
2003 BFA Photography, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI
Solo Exhibitions:
2011 OHWOW Los Angeles CA, “Form Forming Formation”
2010 Fireplace Projects, East Hampton NY, “Always Now”
2009 Schlechtriem Brothers, Berlin, Germany, “Birth In Futureverse”
2008 Andre Schlechtriem Contemporary, Berlin, Germany,
“Sensate Transcendency”
2006 Galerie Lisa Ruyter, Vienna, “But Take Me
Me To The Haven Of Your Bed Was
Something That You Never Said”
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2011
Rachel Uffner, NY “Summer Whites”
Mount Tremper Arts, Mount Tremper NY, “Productive Steps”,
White Columns, NY Benefit
Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, Colorado “The Anxiety of Photography”
The Garage Museum, Moscow, Russia “New York Minute”
2010
OHWOW, Flagler Memorial Island, Miami “The Island”
OHWOW, Miami FL, “It Ain’t Fair 2010”
Galerie Olivier Robert, Paris, France “Group Show”
REFERENCE Art Gallery, Richmond, VA “Eli Manning”
Skylight Projects, New York, NY “Translation (Portraiture)”
Joshua Tree, CA, “Artists Swapmeet”
233 Mott Street, New York, NY “RE:FORM School”
Steven Kasher Gallery, New York, NY “Inspired”
211 Elizabeth Street Gallery, New York, NY “Worth”
The Hole, New York, NY “Not Quite Open for Business”
PS1/MOMA Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, NY “Greater New York 2010”
Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York, NY “A Word Like Tomorrow Wears Things Out”
Philadelphia Photo Art Center, Philadelphia, PA ” Group Show”
211 Elizabeth Street Gallery, New York, NY “Objects that Love You Back”
Jack Hanley Gallery, New York, NY “Is A Rustling Petticoat Enough To Bring It Down To Earth?”
2009
Andrew Edlin Galery, New York, NY “OoO”
X Initiative, New York, NY “Blind Spot Auction”
Colette, Paris, France curated by Rodarte
OHWOW, Miami FL, “It Aint Fair 2009”
“Mine But Not Me” Miami, FL
New York Photography Festival, Brooklyn,
Bellwether, New York, NY “A Song For Those In Search Of What They Came With”
2008
Cohan and Leslie, New York, NY “Photographic Works”
Phillips De Pury, London UK “Art and Entrepreneurship”
Andre Schlechtriem Contemporary, New York, NY “Sonata for Executioner and Various Young Women”
ASS Gallery, New York, NY “I want a little sugar in my bowl”
Sloan Fine Art, New York, NY “Love is a Cannibal”
Goff +Rosenthal, Berlin, Germany “The Dulcet Clime of the Bedchamber”
Oliver Kamm 5BE Gallery, New York, NY “If I told you you were beautiful, would you date me on the regular?”
Credit Suisse- Traveling Group Show- Dubai/New York/Berlin/Moscow/Geneva/Milan/Madrid/London “Art and Entrepreneurship”
Chelsea Hotel Room 103 New York, NY “Last night at the Chelsea”
2007
Andrew Kreps Gallery, New York NY, “Fractured in Aspect”
Green Hall Gallery, New Haven CT, MFA Thesis exhibition
Joshua Tree, CA, “Artists Swap Meet”
Lundbeck Austria, Vienna, “Psychic Realities”
2006
Green Hall Gallery, New Haven CT, 2nd year MFA exhibition
Mitchell-Innes & Nash, New York, NY, “A Rabbit as King of Ghosts”
China Art Objects, Los Angeles, CA, “Smoking Mirrors”
High Desert Test Sites, Joshua Tree, CA, “Artists Swap Meet”
Lisa Ruyter, Vienna, The Vienna Art Fair
Team Gallery, New York NY, The Armory Show
2005
Green Hall Gallery, New Haven CT, 1st year MFA exhibition
Team Gallery, New York, NY, “5 X U”
Spencer Brownstone Gallery, New York, NY, “Red White and Blue”
The Artist Network, New York, NY, “Temperature”
2003
Woods Gerry Gallery, Providence, RI, RISD Senior Invitational
Red Eye Gallery, Providence RI, Senior Show “For A Minute I Lost Myself”
Publications and Catalouges:
Anxiety of Photography, Aspen Art Museum
Mountains, Rizzoli NY
Greater New York, PS1 MOMA 2010
ITS TIME, 2009 Damiani Bologna IT
Series: Chromogenic“Light Construction (Reds)”
40 x 50 inches
2011
Traditional Color Photograph, acrylic paint
Series: Chromogenic“Solar System In Fire System”
30 x 30 inches
2011
Red Traditional Color Photograph Collage on red museum board
Series: Chromogenic“Light Construction (Black to White)”
40 x 50 inches
2011
Traditional Color Photograph, acrylic paint
Series: Chromogenic“Light Construction (Nudes)”
40 x 50 inches
2011
Traditional Color Photograph, acrylic paint
Series: Chromogenic“Solar System In Air System”
30 x 30 inches
2011
White Traditional Color Photograph Collage on white museum board
Series: Chromogenic“Light Construction (Blues)”
40 x 50 inches
2011
Traditional Color Photograph, acrylic paint
Series: Form Forming Formation“Fuchsia Future Bismuth Boiled Puce Poised California Coral Sand Stone”
50 x 60 inches
2011
Traditional Color Photograph
Series: Form Forming Formation“Arctic Arsenic Charcoal Chaffing Slate Soaked Warm Wormed Walker”
50 x 60 inches
2011
Traditional Color Photograph
Series: Form Forming Formation“Golden God Rod Radiant Lemon Lactating Saffron Sap”
50 x 60 inches
2011
Traditional Color Photograph
Series: Form Forming Formation“Royal Ruin Ultramarine Umbilical Fiend Fallen Cobalt Core”
50 x 60 inches
2011
Traditional Color Photograph
Series: Birth In Futureverse“Birth In Futureverse”
30 x 40 inches
2010
Traditional Color Photograph
Series: Birth In Futureverse“3 Suns Rose Before Me”
30 x 40 inches
2009
Traditional Color Photograph
Series: Birth In Futureverse“Manorathadynkas”
30 x 40 inches
2010
Traditional Color Photograph Collage
Series: Birth In Futureverse“How Could I Have Ever Lost You”
30 x 40 inches
2010
Traditional Color Photograph
Series: Birth In Futureverse“Blueballs”
30 x 40 inches
2010
Traditional Color Photograph
Series: Birth In Futureverse“Touched By The Hand Of God”
30 x 40 inches
2010
Traditional Color Photograph
Series: Birth In Futureverse“Minted Sensoria”
30 x 40 inches
2009
Traditional Color Photograph
Series: Birth In Futureverse“Hyperborealis”
30 x 40 inches
2009
Traditional Color Photograph
Series: Birth In Futureverse“Self Portrait As The Born Feeling Begins”
30 x 40 inches
2010
Traditional Color Photograph
Detail“Self Portrait As The Born Feeling Begins