Brett Weston: Significant Details

“Brett Weston (1911–1993)—one of the most celebrated and prolific photographers of the twentieth century—is best known for his scenic images, although the bulk of his work ranges from the middle-distance scene to close-up abstractions. Brett Weston: Significant Details is the first museum exhibition to focus on Weston’s close-up photography. Featuring approximately 40 photographs taken over a period of 55 years, the works—over half of which are on view for the first time—share the high-contrast and graphic qualities of Weston’s panoramic photographs while emphasizing the “significant details,” the tendency toward abstraction and extremes in tonality that Weston explored through his nearly-60-year career. The exhibition also highlights how intuition and a dedication to photography in its purest form guided his practice and further contextualizes Weston within the modern West Coast photography movement.

By the age of 25, Weston’s work had been included in the landmark international photography exhibition Film und Foto and in a solo exhibition at the M. H. de Young Museum in San Francisco. Though he received critical acclaim and his reputation grew, Weston remained dedicated to art for art’s sake and to creating pure, elemental photographs. He was a simple man and used the same equipment for most of his career. However, when health problems forced him to switch to a smaller camera—the Rollei—in 1968, he was able to more easily focus on the close-up photographs, and as a result he became increasingly intent on exploring specific details and abstract qualities. These images form the core of Significant Details and demonstrate the major themes present in Weston’s work: a play on scale, the absence of the human presence, and a refrain from imposed order, bringing to the forefront the unprecedented attention to form, texture, shadow, and light that was the distinctive characteristic of Weston’s oeuvre.”

Brett Weston: Significant Details is organized by the Pasadena Museum of California Art and curated by Erin Aitali, PMCA Exhibition Manager and Registrar. http://pmcaonline.org/exhibitions/brett-weston/

Exhibition Gallery

Featured Photo

Untitled (Reeds, Japan), 1970 Gelatin silver print


OSU Museum of Art shines light on new Brett Weston exhibit

The work of renowned photographer Brett Weston will be on display at the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art. 

“Shadows and Light: The Photography of Brett Weston,” which will be on view Oct. 29, 2024 - Feb. 1, 2025, showcases Weston’s unique photography style. 

Weston (American, 1911-1993) was mentored in photography from a young age by his father, Edward Weston. By the age of 13, Weston’s father removed him from school to work on a photography project together in Mexico. While there, Brett Weston was exposed to the work of famous artists such as Tina Modotti, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. 

Weston’s unique photography style played a major role in securing him a spot as one of American’s most prominent photographic artists. By working with lighting and placement of objects, Weston blended objects into the background while still showcasing how they’re two separate entities. 

Weston’s work often amazes and confuses viewers with its complex relationships between subject and background. The most well-known strategy of representational photography, where the subject is brighter than the background, is upended in Weston’s photographs. In his work, the subject and background are seamlessly blended while still being distinct. 

Andy Mattern, OSU associate professor of art, graphic design and art history, has emphasized how everyone can benefit from viewing Weston’s work in various ways. 

“Exhibits like Brett Weston’s are an important resource not only for students studying the history of photography, but also those who wish to expand their appreciation for photography as an art form,” Mattern said. “Especially in our hyper-digital age, seeing this type of highly crafted photographic work in person represents a unique chance to understand the development of the medium and perhaps begin to see the world in a new way.” 

Weston understood the immense difference between a camera’s perspective and human vision. This understanding laid the foundation for Weston’s success. 

This exhibition showcases Weston’s artworks and invites viewers to ponder his captivating yet puzzling work.

“Shadows and Light: The Photography of Brett Weston” is on view Oct. 29, 2024 - Feb. 1, 2025, at the OSU Museum of Art in downtown Stillwater. This exhibition was made possible by donations from the Brett Weston Archive and the Christian Keesee Collection. Learn more at https://museum.okstate.edu/art/shadows-and-light.html.