On view November 16th – January 14th
Gallery hours of operation Thursday – Saturday, 11 am – 4 pm
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Can a portrait be abstract? What truly defines a portrait—clear, recognizable details, or the potential for abstraction to blur and transform familiar features? This exhibition delves into the complex nature of portraiture, blending abstraction, surrealism, and realism to challenge the boundaries of identity, memory, and emotion. The exhibition invites viewers to question what is figurative, what is natural, and how form can be reimagined. Through diverse photographic techniques, including cyanotypes, stereography, film, and digital photography, the works delve into the overlap between portraiture and creative interpretation.
Featuring works by Franck H. Godefroy and Joliet Morrill, alongside 18 regional and national artists.“Abstract Sur-real” juxtaposes different styles, creating a dynamic dialogue between abstract portraiture, surreal interpretations, and the realism often expected from the genre.
Participating Artists:
ATTILA ATANER
BEN COLLONGUES
GARRETT DEBELL
ALEXANDER DIAZ
STEVEN EDSON
KRISTIN FOUQUET
ASHLEY GATES
VICTORIA GEWIRZ
SOPHIA GREESON
AMY JAMES
BRITTANY MARKERT
KENNETH PAPE
JANET POLITTE
LINDA RENO
MOLLY SOLORZANO
LEANNE TRIVETT S.
JESSE WENDELKEN
COLLEEN WOOLPERT
The exhibition will be on display at the New Orleans Photo Alliance, with an opening reception on November 16 from 5-8 p.m. at 7800 Oak St, New Orleans, LA 70118. Running through January 14, 2025, the show coincides with the PhotoNOLA Festival, offering an extended opportunity to engage with the works during this renowned photography event.
About the Jurors:
Joliet Morrill is a New Orleans-based photographer with a focus on portraiture and street photography. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, she holds degrees in Art History and Sociology where she focused on the intersection of art and education, with a particular interest in modern and contemporary art. Her photography often features staged shoots with models and friends, where she collaborates on styling and conceptualizing each session. Whether working with professional stylists or curating outfits from her friends’ wardrobes, Joliet enjoys creating narrative-driven, highly stylized portraits that blur the lines between reality and imagination.
Joliet is the founder and president of f/504, a creative photography collective and nonprofit in New Orleans dedicated to fostering free, accessible networking and collaborative events. The collective focuses on photography, digital media, modeling, and fashion, providing a safe and inclusive platform for artists of all ages and skill levels.
Joliet also runs Lapin’s Workshop, a community studio space in the Bywater that offers sliding-scale workshops, including drawing classes and open studio days.
Her work is available at jolietmorrill.com, with portraits showcased on Instagram at @photo.joliet and portraits at @joliet.candid.
Franck Henry Godefroy
Franck Henry Godefroy is a Haitian-born photographer. He describes his work as a balance between a setting, its composition, and Its emptiness. He welcomes and appreciates ambiguity through the minimalism of his work. Photography was a hobby for the beginning years but he has progressively felt the want to explore and expand in a more purposeful way. He’s honed his lens in his journey to master his craft and show others the same beauty he sees in the world around him.
Photography has given me the opportunity to explore connections. These connections are an experience, both the simple and the deep. The camera stands in-between. My work exists to create a safe space for myself, who I create projects with and for the world, to feel and to mindfully experience. I simply do it because I love it. Photography has taught me flow, which is how a soul navigates the present. I see it through my lens and ink it on a photo paper. It’s an honor for me to create.
Instagram: @frankxter_
Website: franckhgodefroy.com