Paulette Tavormina
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Paulette Tavormina (born 1949 in Rockville Centre, New York) is an American fine-art photographer who lives and works in Connecticut and New York City. Tavormina is best known for her series, Natura Morta, which features photographic imagery inspired by 17th century Dutch, Spanish and Italian Old Master still life painters.[1][2][3][4]
Career
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Tavormina's interest in photography grew out of a 1980's request by a New York public relations firm to photograph a visiting celebrity.[5] She then took an introductory class at the International Center of Photography in New York. After moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico, Tavormina took a class in black and white photography and darkroom technique, and became a commercial photographer, specializing in historical Indian pottery and Navajo jewelry. She also worked as a food stylist, collaborating on six cookbooks, including The Coyote Café Cookbook and The Red Sage Cookbook. She adapted her food styling experience to become a prop and food specialist for Hollywood films including The Astronaut's Wife,[6] where part of her work involved creating elaborate food scenes.[5] While in Santa Fe, Tavormina became fascinated by the work of Sarah McCarty,[7] a Santa Fe-based still life painter and was introduced to the works of 17th century Old Master still-life painters Giovanna Garzoni and Maria Sibylla Merian.
Early in her career, Tavormina spent six years working at Sotheby's auction house in New York, surrounded by fine art. Returning to New York in the mid-2000s, after a period learning Italian and finding her ancestral roots in Sicily, Tavormina joined Sotheby's again, photographing works of art for their auction catalogues. Tavormina began experimenting and creating photographic images reminiscent of the still life art of Dutch, Italian and Spanish painters of the 17th century, including Francesco de Zurbarán, Giovanna Garzoni, Maria Sibylla Merian, and Willem Claesz Heda. By 2009, Tavormina had developed the lighting and composition style that forms the backbone of her Natura Morta series, and the work was shown publicly for the first time in 2009 at Sotheby's. Her first gallery show was the Still Seen group exhibition[8] at Robert Klein Gallery in Boston in the fall of 2009. Tavormina's work has since been part of many solo and group exhibitions.
In addition to her fine-art photography, Tavormina has a successful career as a commercial photographer, including the "Alchemist's Garden" fragrance campaign for Gucci, and Goop's "edition 01" perfume. She has photographed recipes for the Del Posto Cookbook, The 1802 Beekman Heirloom Cookbook[9] and The 1802 Beekman Heirloom Dessert Cookbook and other commercial publications such as Sotheby's at Auction,[10] Martha Stewart Weddings,[11] The New York Times,[12] and National Geographic magazine.[13]
Monograph
[edit]A monograph entitled Paulette Tavormina: Seizing Beauty was published in 2016 by The Monacelli Press.[14] This 160-page volume incorporates plates of Tavormina's major works from the period 2008 to 2015 as well as essays by the art and photography scholars Silvia Malaguzzi, Mark Alice Durant and Anke Van Wagenberg-Ter Hoeven.[15][16]
Awards and grants
[edit]In August 2016, Tavormina was selected by the Pollock-Krasner Foundation as a 2016 recipient of a Pollock-Krasner grant.
In November 2010, Tavormina was awarded[17][18] the Grand Prix of the Festival International de la Photographie Culinaire, a juried photography competition held annually in Paris, France.
Solo museum exhibitions
[edit]- Snite Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, August 21, 2016 – November 27, 2016 [19]
- Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD, April 23, 2016 – July 10, 2016 [20]
Solo gallery exhibitions
[edit]- Fiori del Giardino, Winston Wächter Fine Art, New York, 2023[21]
- Fiore del Giardino, Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID, 2023[22]
- Seizing Beauty, Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID, 2022[23]
- A Concert of Birds, Robert Mann Gallery, New York, NY, 2018[24]
- Seizing Beauty, Colnaghi, Madrid, Spain, 2018[25]
- Seizing Beauty, Colnaghi, London, England, 2017 [26]
- Paulette Tavormina, Beetles + Huxley Gallery, London, England, 2015 [27][28][29]
- Paulette Tavormina: Bogedón, Robert Mann Gallery, New York, 2015 [30]
- Bogedón Series by Paulette Tavormina, March SF, San Francisco, 2014 [31]
- Black & Bloom, A solo exhibition in two parts, Robert Klein Gallery, Boston MA, 2014 [32][33][34]
- Photographs, March SF, San Francisco, 2013 [2][3][31]
- Natura Morta, Robert Mann Gallery, New York, 2013 [35][36]
- Natura Morta, Polka Gallery, Paris, 2012 [37]
- Natura Morta, Robert Klein Gallery, Boston, 2010 [38]
Selected group exhibitions
[edit]- Everyday Objects: The Enduring Appeal of Still Life, Boise Art Museum, Boise, ID, 2022[39]
- Undying Traditions: Momento Mori, Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, MI, 2020.[40]
- The Garzoni Challenge, Uffizi Galleries, Florence, Italy, 2020.[41]
- Garden Party, Catherine Couturier Gallery, Houston, TX, 2019.[42]
- Sleep with the Fishes, Robert Mann Gallery, New York, NY, 2019.[43]
- Birds of a Feather, Robert Mann Gallery, New York, NY, 2017.[44]
- Still Life – The Pleasure of Stopping Time, Holden Luntz Gallery, Palm Beach, Florida, 2016.[45]
- Month of Photography Denver: Playing with Beauty curated by Mark Sink, RedLine, Denver, Colorado, 2015 [46][47]
- Summer Photography Show, Stephanie Hoppen Gallery, London, England, 2014 [48]
- Fragile, Chris Beetles Fine Photographs, London, England, 2013 [49][50]
- An Artist's Delight: Revealing the Fantasies of Still Life, Alimentarium Museum, Vevey, Switzerland, 2014 [51][52]
- The Photographers 2011, Chris Beetles Fine Photographs, London, United Kingdom, 2011 [53]
- Natura Morta, Polka Gallery, Paris, 2011 [37]
- Natura Morta, Pobeda Gallery, Moscow, Russia, 2011[54]
- Still Life Revisited, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York, 2011 [55]
- Food for Thought, Robert Mann Gallery, New York, New York, 2011 [56]
- Naturae Mortae: Master Photographers of the 20th Century, Photographica Fine Art, Lugano, Switzerland, 2010 [57]
- Through a Painter's Lens, Holden Luntz Gallery, Palm Beach Florida, 2009 [58]
- Still Seen, Robert Klein Gallery, Boston, MA, 2009,[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Smee, Sebastian (24 November 2010). "The Magic of Objects". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
- ^ a b Dean, Sam (18 March 2013). "Paulette Tavormina's Still-Life Photos of Food, Dutch Master Style". Bon Appétit. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ a b Samadzadeh, Nozlee (4 March 2013). "Natura Morta". The Morning News. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Tavormina, Paulette (July–August 2012). "Natura Morta". Photo Technique Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013.
- ^ a b Digital Photo Russia, (in Russian), February 2012
- ^ "Paulette Tavormina | Additional Crew". IMDb. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Argos Etchings and Paintings Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Eli Levin, Jo Basiste, Paul Steiner, Thayer Carter, Whitman Johnson, Zara Kriegstein, Cheryl Lorance, Phyllis Sloane, Jack Sinclair, Santa Fe Etching Club". argos-gallery.com. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ^ a b Robert Klein Gallery Announcement Archived 2014-12-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook by Josh Kilmer-Purcell, Brent Ridge, Sandy Gluck". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Sotheby's at Auction, January 2013 issue
- ^ Martha Stewart Weddings: Special Travel Issue, October 2012,
- ^ Gordinier, Jeff (22 April 2014). "Against the Grain". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "A Moveable Feast". National Geographic. 8 November 2014. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Malaguzzi, Silvia; Durant, Mark Alice; van Wagenberg-ter Hoeven, Anke A. (2016). Paulette Tavormina: Seizing Beauty. New York: The Monacelli Press. ISBN 9781580934565. OCLC 946011634.
- ^ Gassmann, Gay (20 April 2016). "Vivid Images That Aren't Old Masters — but Look Just Like Them". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Hughes, Holly Stuart (May 2016). "Lush Life". Photo District News. 36 (5): 20. ISSN 1543-0294. ProQuest 1800183123. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Le meilleur de la photo culinaire 2010" [The best of food photography 2010]. L'Express (in French). 26 November 2010. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Arts de la table. Beau et bon à la fois" [Table Arts. Beautiful and good at the same time]. Le Républicain Lorrain (in French). 28 November 2010. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Seizing Beauty | Photographs by Paulette Tavormina". Snite Museum of Art. 2016. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016.
- ^ "Academy Art Museum Tavormina Photography Exhibition Recalls 17th Century Masters". Academy Art Museum. 23 February 2015. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016.
- ^ "Paulette Tavormina - Fiori del Giardino". Winston Wächter Fine Art. 2023. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Paulette Tavormina Fiore del Giardino". Gilman Contemporary. 2023. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ "Paulette Tavormina - Seizing Beauty". Gilman Contemporary. 2021. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ "Paulette Tavormina: A Concert of Birds". Robert Mann Gallery. 2018. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Seizing Beauty 2018". Colnaghi. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Seizing Beauty". Colnaghi. 2017. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ "Paulette Tavormina: Life, Death and the Old Masters". Wall Street International Magazine. 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Savitskaya, Anna (15 June 2015). "'I want to remind that this beauty is all around us' - interview with Paulette Tavormina". Art Dependence. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Sim, David (14 May 2015). "Paulette Tavormina's sumptuous photos inspired by 17th Century Old Masters go on show in London". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Paulette Tavormina - Bodegón". Robert Mann Gallery. 2015. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Artist - Paulette Tavormina". MARCH. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Paulette Tavormina Returns to Boston with Black & Bloom at Robert Klein Gallery and Ars Libri". Robert Klein Gallery. 8 January 2014. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016.
- ^ Silver, Joanne (May 2014). "Paulette Tavormina". ARTnews. 113 (5): 106–107.
- ^ "Paulette Tavormina's Secretive Still Lifes". Artsy. 7 February 2014. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Paulette Tavormina". The New Yorker. 1 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ Fabricant, Florence (15 January 2013). "Dining Calendar". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Paulette Tavormina". Photography-Now.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Upcoming Exhibition: Paulette Tavormina - Natura Morta". Robert Klein Gallery. November–December 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
- ^ "Everyday Objects: The Enduring Appeal of Still Life". Boise Art Museum. 2022. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ "Undying Traditions: Memento Mori". Muskegon Museum of Art. 31 October 2019. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ "What is The Garzoni Challenge?". Advancing Women Artists. Medici Archive Project. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ "Garden Party". Catherine Couturier Gallery. 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Sleep with the Fishes". Robert Mann Gallery. 2019. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Birds of a Feather". Robert Mann Gallery. 2017. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Still Life -- The Pleasure of Stopping Time". Holden Luntz. 2016. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "MoP A–Z Listings - Redline - Artists". Month of Photography Denver. 2015. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016.
- ^ "MoP Denver 2015". The Eye of Photography Magazine. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Paulette Tavormina". Stephanie Hoppen Gallery. 2014. Archived from the original on 21 March 2015.
- ^ Chris Beetles Fine Photographs Gallery Web Site[permanent dead link]
- ^ Steward, Sue (25 July 2014). "Fragile, Chris Beetles - exhibition review". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ Rohrer, Denis (2014). "An Artist's Delight". Alimentarium. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023.
- ^ Alimentarium Museum Catalogue Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Photographers 2011: Paulette Tavormina". Beetles+Huxley Gallery. 2011. Archived from the original on 8 July 2015.
- ^ "Exhibition: Natura Morta". Photography-Now.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Still Life: Revisited". Everson Museum of Art. 2011. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013.
- ^ Fabricant, Florence (29 March 2011). "An Exhibit Focuses on Food Loved by the Camera". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Naturae Mortae - Master photographers of the 20th. Century". Photographica Fine Art. 2010. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013.
- ^ "Through a Painter's Lens". Holden Luntz Gallery. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
External links
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