Kalliope Amorphous

Biography

Kalliope Amorphous is an artist, model and photographer whose work has evolved into an exploration of the conceptual self-portrait photograph as a catalyst for exploring ideas of identity, gender, archetype and myth. She does not consider herself a photographer, but an “artist with a camera”. A chameleon-like protagonist, Amorphous alters her own image to focus on themes of isolation and states of consciousness, folklore and fairytales, interpretations of pre-existing iconography and surrealistic deconstructions of her own identity.

Before embracing photography as a tool for artistic expression, Kalliope spent several years in front of the camera as a model for fashion photographers, where she first began to experiment with conceptual imagery. Upon discovering a passion for photography years later, she began to play the role of model, photographer and stylist, allowing for an entirely self-contained creative process. Self-taught in photography, Amorphous works without the aid of professional lighting or studio equipment, preferring to create her own systems as well as developing unique in-camera methodologies. 

Kalliope has received worldwide recognition for her work in self portraiture and her photographs have been exhibited and published throughout the United States and internationally. Her work is held in public and private collections and she is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the 2010 Julia Margaret Cameron Award for self-portraiture and Obscura Journal’s Outstanding Photo Award. 

In addition to her photographic work, Kalliope is a writer of poetry and prose, designs various mixed media works and creates handmade artisan perfumes for Black Baccara perfumery. She currently divides her time between Rhode Island and New York.

Statement

I am not a photographer or a narcissist. I am an artist with a camera. Rather than approaching self-portraiture from an autobiographical perspective, I want to push the boundaries of what I define as “self” and “other” by playing with ideas of identity, gender, archetype, emotion and the visual interpretations and possibilities that exist within them. Self-Portraiture evolved as a result of my artistic desire to work with conceptual portrait photography, coupled with my reclusive personality.

I do not define myself as a photographer, but rather as an artist using the camera as another tool to create. My tools are very basic and I work without the use of professional lighting or other studio equipment. I work primarily with available and improvisational lighting. All costuming, styling, makeup, photography and post processing is self-created. I shoot digitally, yet prefer a more traditional photographic aesthetic over heavily digitized post processing.

I am continually drawn to concepts involving the subconscious, alienation, isolation, time, memory and transcendence. I can more deeply explore my conceptual visions by embracing the roles of both photographer and subject. Much of my work also deals with the question of reality and tends to present stories that are not necessarily definite, but instead open to interpretation. I view photography as visual poetry, finding a powerful link between the written word and the wordless image. The still image is without words, yet is capable of equally as much poetry. There is a paradox there that I love working with. In a good session, that collaboration will be tangible in the finished image.

www.KalliopeAmorphous.com