Ken GRAVES
EN GRAVES' collages reveal the wit and precision of his mind and hands. Rearranging found photographs from early to mid-twentieth century American magazines and inserting a range of materials, Graves creates surreal images that open a world of interpretive narratives. With humor and a very sharp knife, these collages dissect American pop culture and idealism through fantasies that reposition familiar imagery into absurd compositions. Kenneth Graves received his B.F.A. and M.F.A. from the San Francisco Art Institute in the 1960s and currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Beginning in 1977 and until 2009, Graves taught photography at Pennsylvania State University, where his work transitioned from traditional documentary style photography to a studio-based, controlled style. His collages reflect his background as a photographer and professor, and they pay tribute to Victorian paper collages and surrealist art while commenting on contemporary situations. Both Graves' collages and photographs are collected and exhibited in major museums, such as the New York and San Francisco Museums of Modern Art, Brooklyn Museum, Houston Museum of the Arts, the George Eastman House, and the National Library in Paris. Kenneth Graves is a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship (2001).
Publications
2009 - Le Choc De Photographie, 4 photographs published in ‘Americain’
2003 - Public Culture, Society for Transnational Cultural Studies. Vol. 15 No. 39,
1996 - Existentialism, Basic Writings, published by Hackett Publishing Co., one
1996 - Underworld, one photograph reproduced in a book published by Kelly Klein.
1993 - Blue Sky #6, quarterly catalogue, twenty-six images reproduced, Blue Sky Gallery, Portland, OR, 1993
1991 - The Meaning of Life, Time Life Books, 1 image reproduced in a book, 1991 People Magazine
1990 - Sommer, Sally, "Capturing the Ritual of Ballroom Dance: Time Suspended,”
1989 - Graves, Ken and Eva Lipman, "Ballroom Backstage,"
1988 - On Seeing, periodical, Fall Issue
1987 - Photography Review Magazine
1983 - Photographies, a French photograph periodical, 1983
1982-83 - Photo Metro, periodical, 12/82 - 1/83, 1 photograph
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2014 - Jack Fisher Gallery, SF, Ca. (two person)
2013 - Paule Anglim Gallery, San Francisco, Ca. (two person)
2011 - Paule Anglim Gallery, San Francisco, Ca. (two person)
2007 - Watermark Gallery, Houston, Texas
2004 - Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pa., (two person)
2003 - Paul Robeson Gallery, Penn. State Univ. (two person)
2000 -
O.K. Harris Gallery, New York City (two person)
Blue Sky Gallery, Portland, OR (two person)
1995 - Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA (two person)
1994 - University of Wyoming Art Museum, Laramie, WY
Fleming Museum, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
1993 -
O. K. Harris Gallery, New York City (two person)
Blue Sky Gallery, Portland, Oregon (two person)
1991 -
O. K. Harris Gallery, New York City
Juniata College, Huntington, PA (two person)
1989 - O. K. Harris Gallery, New York City
1988 -
New York University, (one-person)
Mid-Town Y Photography Gallery, New York City, (two person)
New York City Arts Club, (two person)
1987 - 2nd Street Gallery, Charlottesville, Virginia
1985 -
Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, Oregon
Blue Sky Gallery, Portland, Oregon
1984 - University of California at San Francisco
Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State University, University Park, PA
1983 -
Portico Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Lewis M. Parker Center, Burlington County College, New Jersey
1982 -
Blue Sky Gallery, Portland, Oregon
Lancaster Museum, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Cal-State Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
1980 - Brindle Gallery, Camden, Maine
1979 -
Focus Gallery, San Francisco, California
Chambers Gallery, The Pennsylvania State University
1978 - Zoller Gallery, The Pennsylvania State University, American Snapshots Exhibition
1975 - Photo Gallery, New York, New York
1974 - Bakersfield Junior College, California
1972 - Humbolt State College, Arcata, California
1970 - San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California
1969-70 - The San Francisco Art Institute Touring Exhibition (brochure)
1969 - Crown Zellerbach Building, San Francisco, California
