Towards Abstraction, 1940-1985: Brett Weston Photographs from the Bruce Museum Collection

November 5, 2016 – February 12, 2017

Supported by the Deborah G. and Charles M. Royce Exhibition Fund and Connecticut Office of the Arts. 

“Throughout his nearly seventy-year career, Brett Weston (1911-1993) was obsessed with abstracted micro-images of reality as well as of cities and landscapes captured by a long telephoto lens that diminished the depth of field, thus flattening the image. Weston used a medium or large-format camera and contact printed on high-gloss paper directly from the negative, selecting his subjects carefully rather than manipulating in the dark room. The subjects, always from nature, became increasingly less recognizable as time progressed.

He often combined groups of photographs in portfolios and although only a few portfolios were actually labeled “Abstractions,”  most share Brett Weston’s signature abstract and flattened style. 

“Whatever the subject, the images are crisp, flattened, black and white, and brilliantly composed, but not staged,”  notes Susan Ball, Bruce Museum Deputy Director and curator of the exhibition.

Brett Weston gained international recognition at the age of seventeen, when he was included, with his father, Edward Weston, in an avant-garde exhibition at Film und Foto in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1929. Three years later he had his first one-person museum retrospective in San Francisco and frequently exhibited in the 1930s with the California group of photographers known as Group f.64, named for the aperture setting.

The works in this exhibition come primarily from the 1940s through the 1980s and are a gift from the Christian Keesee Collection. They represent a portion of the gift received from collector and philanthropist Christian Keesee, who acquired the vintage prints from the Brett Weston Estate in 1996, Keesee created an archive in 1997 to organize and catalog the works as well as to increase the public awareness of the artist.” 

©brucemuseum.org

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.