About the work
For the past four years I have traveled throughout America and Eastern Europe photographing sites that represent important political and social events in contemporary world history. My most recent project in Afghanistan is a continuation of this larger conceptual body of work. Acting as a kind of visual historian I seek to create images that convey a unique and important view of select aspects of World History. Within architecture and landscapes I find my true subject, the detritus of civilization, and seek to explore the way we define and relate to its existence. Although creating precisely composed and executed images I carefully chose projects that have a conceptual meaning and importance beyond their visual interest or beauty. These images from Afghanistan encompass and express the intents of my vision as an artist.
All images are photographed with a Deardorff 8x10 inch camera on Fuji negative film. Final print sizes vary from 30x40 inches to 50x60 inches and are in an edition of 5.
Collections
Silvana Facchini Collection, Miami, Florida (USA)
Martin Z. Margulies Collection, Miami, Florida (USA)
Sammlung Schoeller, Germany
Sammlung Quandt, Bad Homburg v.d.H. (Germany)
Sagamore Collection, Miami, Florida (USA)
Awards
1999 - The Eugene Atget Prize for Photography presented by Bard College
2001- International Emerging Young Artist, Sponsored by ArtLink and Sotheby’s and followed by a series of group shows with Sotheby’s Auction House
2001- 25 Under 25, Sponsored by Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies and followed by the publication of 25 Under 25
Biography
Born 1977 in Kansas City, Missouri, attended the Interlochen Arts Academy and Bard College studying photography with Stephen Shore, Larry Fink and Barbara Ess. Worked as assistant and studio manger to Lynn Davis 1996-2001. Currently lives and works in New York City.
2006 - URBANUS, Galerie Stefan Röpke, Köln
2005 - Re-Build-Ings, Galería Arnés y Röpke, Madrid, Spain
2005 - URBANUS, Mitchell-Innes&Nash, New York
2005 - URBANUS, Hilger Contemporary, Wien
2004 - DETRITUS, Valentina Bonomo Artecontemporanea, Roma
2004 - DETRITUS, Nusser & Baumgart Contemporary, München
2003 - DETRITUS, Galerie Hilger, Wien
2003 - DETRITUS, Galerie Poller, Frankfurt am Main
2002 - Fotografie aus New York, Gallery KunstRaum, Essen, Germany
2001 - The Soviet Military Bases, KunstMarkt , Krefeld, Germany
1999 - SITES, Olin Gallery, Annandale, New York
Group Exhibitions
2005 - Asthetik des Dokumentarischen, Galerie der Stadt Wels, Austria
2004 - New Artists, Galerie Poller, Frankfurt, Germany
2004 - 25 Under 25, Tisch Gallery, New York City
2002 - Mudai, Gallery Christa Schubbe, Dusseldorf, Germany
2002 - October Report, The Genia Schreiber University Art Gallery, Tel Aviv University
2002 - The Blue Square, Gallery Viehofer Strasse 26, Essen, Germany
2002 - International Young Art, Sotheby’s Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, New York
2000 - Annual New Images Exhibition, New Images Gallery, James Madison University, Virginia
Brian McKee - DETRITUS
48 pages, 34 images of photographs, preface by Carl Aigner, texts by Stephan Schmidt-Wulffen, Inge Nevole (all texts in German and English), Wien 2003, EIKON Verlag Wien - Sonderdruck #9, ISBN 3-902250-06-2
Brian McKee - URBANUS
Mitchell-Innes & Nash, New York, 2005, with interview with Ian Dunlop, 52pp., 26 color ill., 21,5 x 28 cm / 8,5"x11", ISBN 0-9749607-3-X
25 Under 25, sponsored by Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies and published by Powerhouse Books, New York, 2003