My artwork has always been photographic and narrative in nature. Previous to this group of work shown here, between 1980 and 1999, I constructed scenarios using settings, props and people. My interest was always to tell our stories, how we interact and what is important to us. I have always felt that photography is a wonderful medium to explore these ideas.
Ten years ago I began photographing for a company that made articulated action figures. I realized their potential, being able to use them in ways that would seem too strange if people where involved. I also wanted to explore how these dolls, and figures with all there accouterments helped train us from childhood to interact with each other, to shape our expectations of an adult life, and to want for more. I try to approach these subjects not to judge but to point out what might be.
In the exhibition on this site you will see a series titled Monologues. Each face seemed to have a story, so written over them are their private thoughts in words. Another series is titled Taxonomy. Each face is such an analog of our own. I made the faces life size, and placed them in grids that explore various societal relationships. The another group is titled People Like Us. In this series I explore body language. The last series is titled Diorama. I built sets using common themes of political and social dynamics to, once again, tell stories of the human condition. The series that begins this site is titled American Obsessions. In this I pose the question of toys' roll in helping to developing our mass consumer society. Do the obsessions rise because of the toys we played with or are the toys create as a reaction to preexisting desires?
I do not alter the figures. Everything is as it was out of the package. The only altered/constructed figure is the death figure used in the Diorama series. I use Photoshop only to dodge, burn, remove dust and particles, and fix some of the paint missed in spots on faces. Everything is shot in one go.
Most of the bodies of work are shown complete, except for American Obsessions which consists of 60 pieces. There are other series not shown here but are on my web site.
BORN
Glendale, CA
EDUCATION
California State University, Northridge
1984 MA Art – 3D
1976 BA Speech Communication
1976 BA Political Science
AWARDS
1998 Keyart Awards, Theatrical Poster, Psycho
Client: Intralink/Universal Pictures
1997 Millard Sheets Gallery, Pomona, CA
3rd Place
1995 Society for Contemporary Photography
Merit Award, Purchase Award
REVIEWS
Art Review: 'Chain Letter' at Shoshana Wayne Gallery
Los Angeles Times Blog, Uncredited, August 4, 2011
The Very Good and Irresistibly Kitschy, December 11, 2007
Art Talk With Edward Goldman, KCRW
VC Reporter, California Thinkin’ by Matthew Singer, December 20, 2007
COLLECTIONS
Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, AZ
MOMA, New York, NY
Various Private Collections
PUBLISHED WORKS
William Mortensen and George Dunham, Artist Rebels
The Laguna Beach Independent, Vol. 5, Issue 37, pages B6-B7.
Los Angeles Neon, Nathan Marsak & Nigel Cox
Schiffer Books, 2002, Contributing Photographer
Original Sources: Art and Archives at the Center for Creative Photography,
Edited by Amy Rule, (Center for Creative Photography, The University of Arizona, Tucson), June, 2002.
The Archive 33 – William Mortensen; A Revival,
Michael Dawson, Diane Dillon, A. D. Coleman, Larry Lytle, Amy Rule,
(Center for Creative Photography, The University of Arizona, Tucson), 1998.
ON-LINE PUBLICATIONS
The Command to Look; The Story of William Mortensen Part 1, 2 & 3, Larry Lytle,
(TheScreamOnline Internet e-Journal of Fiction, Art, Photography, and Essays., http://www.thescreamonline.com), August, 2001, June, 2001 & April, 2002.
“Where Do We Come From…,” “Light and Photography,” “Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction,
” 3 essays by Larry Lytle, (TheScreamOnline Internet e-Journal of Fiction, Art,
Photography, and Essays., http://www.thescreamonline.com), January, 2002.
FACULTY
California State University, Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA
Part-time Art Faculty, 2003 to present
Otis Evening College of Art and Design, Goldsmith Campus, Westchester, CA
Instructor of Photography, 2000 to 2005
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2010
American Obsessions
CSUCI Exhibitions Gallery, Camarillo, CA
February 25 – April 16, 2010
2009
American Obsessions
Handmade Galleries LA, Sherman Oaks, CA
August 1 – October 1, 2009
2009
Action
Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Camarillo, CA
March 14 – May 2
2008
Tableau Vivant
New Image Gallery, James Madison University, VA
September 1 – October 17
2005
Tableau Vivant
Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA
November 5 – December 2
SELECTED 2 & 3 PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2007
People Like Us
L2 Kontemporary, Los Angeles, CA
2000
Society for Contemporary Photography, Kansas City, MO
1999
Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles, CA
1985
LAPA Gallery, Venice, CA
1984
Azurite Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2011
by and for: Democracy and Art
Avenue 50 Studio, Highland Park, CA
2011
Chain Letter
Shoshana Wayne Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2010-11
New American Dream, Installation
Sylvia White Gallery, Ventura, CA
2010
CSUCI Art Faculty Exhibition
Camarillo, CA
2009
A BOOK ABOUT DEATH: An Unbound Book on the Subject of Death
The Emily Harvey Foundation, New York, NY
2009
Beyond Toys
Sylvia White Gallery, Ventura, CA
2007/2008
Hang Onto Your Ego
CSUCI Exhibitions, Camarillo, CA
2007
Made In California
City of Brea Art Gallery, Brea, CA
2007
Connectivity: Across Time Across Earth
Los Angeles Center for Digital Art. Los Angeles, CA
2006
The Open Show
Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA
Juror: Ann Philbin, Director, Hammer Museum
2005
Made In California
City of Brea Art Gallery, Brea, CA
2004
In America Now
Don O’Melveny Gallery, West Hollywood, CA
2004
Envisioning The Future
Millard Sheets Gallery, Pomona, CA
2003
American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA)
Harold’s Gallery at Insync Media, Inglewood, CA
1996
Exhibit #1
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Rental Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1995
Theatre of Light and Motion
City of Brea Gallery, Brea, CA
1995
Current Works ’95
Society for Contemporary Photography, Kansas City, MO
1995
Los Angeles Juried Exhibition
Los Angeles Municipal Gallery, Watts Tower, Los Angeles, CA
1994
Current Works ’94
Society for Contemporary Photography, Kansas City, MO
1993
APA Photo 5 Juried Exhibition, Locations around Los Angeles, CA
1991
California Artists’ Books Juried Exhibition
The Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, CA
1979
The Basement Regulars
Nexus Photo Gallery, Pasadena, CA
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