Sameer Reddy

With an extensive background as a magazine editor, creative director and writer, Sameer Reddy arrived at his practice with a stylized eye schooled in the art of content manipulation. The 32 year-old, American-born, Berlin-based artist's work, which centers around digital photographic montage, combines excavations of religious, folkloric and mythical iconographies with exercises in self-portraiture that test the boundaries of belief. His first series reimagines avatars from a number of religious traditions, subverting their traditional associations with depictions that employ complicated, and seemingly contradictory qualities. His second series engages with subjects of fairy tales and fables, using similar techniques to problematize their common interpretations. Visually, Reddy's work registers a strong and immediate impact by using exaggerated expressions and saturated colors to campy effect -  the sentiments that underlie the images, however, are sincere. A graduate of Bard College, where he focused on sculpture and video, Reddy's work is included in a group show on display at Nature Morte's Berlin outpost until September 18th, as well as in a group show at Dubai's XVA gallery until September 22nd. He is currently working towards the completion of his fairy tale series, as well as penning a book that will combine illustration, photography and text.