Luciana Pampalone

NOV 15 –
DEC 31, 2017

The Robin Rice Gallery is pleased to present a photographic exhibition by Luciana Pampalone. The opening reception will be held on Wednesday, November 15th from 6pm to 8pm. The show will run through December 31, 2017

The idyllic and playful world of The Peconic Bay in Southampton, NY dances to life in Luciana Pampalone's first solo exhibition. Each location was scouted by Pampalone and transformed into a vintage 1930s setting by the use of her models and props. A Graphlex camera, aviator goggles, parasols, retro bathing suit and games of croquet, (just to name a few) subtly tamper with the past, breathing life back into the 1930s. Moment by moment, Pampalone encapsulates the ephemeral quality of life, bending and blending human subjects within the natural landscape.

Never has a world of black and white looked so colorful. In the gallery installation, a red accent wall will emphasize the spirit and energy evoked by Pampalone's black and white photographs. The strong compositions and delicate imagery of each photograph come together to transport us into a world of amusement and joy.

"Smile", the invitational image, let us in on the surreptitious but not-so-secret powers of Pampalone as director. The woman wielding the artist's personal '30s Graphlex camera confronts the male model, embodying strength, poise and an engaging sense of playfulness. Her commanding presence draws him in until he is physically leaning towards her and becomes her subject. Strong and confident, the heroine radiates the eternal spirit of adventure.

Pampalone's love of photography started at the age of 16. She was inspired by the great artists, Helmut Newton and Deborah Tuberville. For Pampalone, many of her images are self-representational. Pampalone depicts women as heroines allowing them to be the central, commanding figures in each photograph. Pampalone's self-representational photographs allow women to take on the roles of heroines by captivating any onlookers and drawing us into Her world.

In 1983, at the School of Visual Arts, Pampalone first heard a phrase by her teacher and mentor that would stay with her throughout her photographic career. "Shoot like you can smell it!" resonates in her mind with each click of the shutter, allowing the spirit of each moment to be captured and frozen in time.

Working for the past 25 years in her commercial career In New York and internationally, Pampalone has been published in various fashion, lifestyle magazines and books. As a photographer and director, Pampalone has been featured in various photographic exhibitions in New York City and Florida, and was awarded "Best in Show" at the Whiteroom Gallery in Bridgehampton.