Artist Jason DeMarte is fascinated by culture. He’s especially intrigued by consumer culture and the ways in which it’s products represent the natural world. He writes “This unnatural experience of the so-called “natural” world is reflected in the way we, as modern consumers, ingest products. What becomes clear is that the closer we come to mimicking the natural world, the further away we separate ourselves from it.”

DeMarte’s artwork is the result of careful compositing. He takes imaginary depictions of nature and combines them with commercial products or elements. The result is both powerful and pleasing. The viewer is invited to ponder the cultural themes that DeMarte raises while at the same time being able to simply enjoy a beautiful object of fine art.

Learn more about Jason DeMarte and purchase his limited-edition artwork in our shop.

Everything Must Go © Jason DeMarte

By Rebecca Horne

Nenad Saljic is a Croatian artist who discovered his twin passions for photography and mountaineering early, while still in primary school. Looking at his impressive prints, it will not surprise you to know that he was almost expelled from school for spending too much time in the darkroom.

Saljic uses long exposures that condense time, creating records of the movement of the wind, water and trees, where light and shadow meet in a tremendous, blissful moment. Saljic writes: “Being mountaineer and caver from a very early age brought me to some magnificent destinations where human footsteps have rarely or never been before. The feeling is amazing and hardly explicable by words. I want my images to convey exactly that kind of transcendent experiences, to take the viewer into my deepest emotional journeys. I¹d like you to feel like traveling Jules Verne’s voyages when looking at my pictures; to make the impossible possible.”

These images are available as limited edition prints in our store where artist-signed pieces start as low as a hundred bucks!

Images © Nenad Saljic

By Rebecca Horne

Alessandro Puccinelli has salt water in his camera. And this is the way he likes it. Puccinelli is an Italian photographer who divides his time between Italy and Portugal. Puccinelli writes: “To some extent the sea is my guide through life; I think of the sea as an example and a source of knowledge. The presence of the ocean in my everyday life is a balancing factor that helps me reconnect.” Specifically, he is entranced by the moments when, “the sheer energy and immense power released by a stormy ocean encountering a solid obstacle like a rock.” These images were made at the Marina di Pisa, a short distance from where Puccinelli lives.

Your body is around 60 percent water — which is why you might respond on a cellular level to this spectacular display of moisture. There is a fantastical suggestion of an epic storm upending the horizon — I find myself looking for fish soaring in the sky. Where does the ocean end, and the sky begin? These heroic moments seem they could depict a battle between the gods of the sea and the heavens — perhaps Atlas grew tired at last of holding up the sky, hurled it at the sea, and Neptune rose to scold him.

These images are available as limited edition prints in our store where artist-signed pieces start as low as a hundred bucks!

Intersections series © Alessandro Puccinelli

Sky and Sea

An exhibition of new artwork from Lux Archive

On view at The Natural Wine Company

February 9, 2012 – May 9, 2012

211 North 11^th St. Brooklyn, NY 11211

Opening reception Thursday, February 9, 6pm – 8pm

Lux Archive is pleased to announce Sky and Sea, an exhibition of twelve fine-art photographs by artists Alessandro Puccinelli, Paul Nelson and Nenad Saljic. The exhibition features three series of images, each a portrayal of one element from the natural world. All twelve images are new additions to Lux Archive and are available for purchase as limited-edition prints.

Please join us for our opening reception. The first twenty-five guests will receive a $25 voucher for use on the Lux Archive website. The Natural Wine Company will provide a free tasting of wines throughout the night.

For more information please email: press@luxarchive.com

Paul Nelson

Alessandro Puccinelli

Nenad Saljic

Paul Nelson found inspiration for his Wild Birds Flying series from an unlikely source. The works of John James Audubon, a famous 19^th century artist who painted every North American bird known at the time, inspired Paul to create a modern-day portrayal of these graceful avian creatures.

Paul has done an exquisite job of taking Audubon’s original concept to new heights. He uses complex photographic techniques to freeze the birds in flight as they are netted for tracking purposes or released into the wild (no birds are harmed in the process). The result, as Paul explains: “…strikes a balance that is at once beautiful, intimate, and compelling. Birds frozen in flight — the arresting images so surreal that they seem worlds apart from the avian creatures common to any backyard.”

Paul’s images are available as limited edition prints in our store where artist-signed pieces start as low as a hundred bucks!

© Paul Nelson

By Rebecca Horne

Michael Schlegel is happy to sleep alone on a beach, waiting for the perfect confluence of the elements. Describing the patient alchemy that leads to his time exposures, Schlegel explains: ‘These moments often occur at dawn or dusk, in misty weather, or even at night, because light situations without direct sunlight hold more potential…I want the waters to move. I want the clouds to move. And I enjoy being alone in nature. I think the atmosphere in my images is conveyed much better without people in them — the viewer can more easily imagine being in that quite landscape, too.” Indeed.

Michael Schlegel’s starkly refined images offer up the raw materials of life — geological time and weather — in graphic relief. The Black Forest, near Schlegel’s home in southern Germany provided initial inspiration. The next subject for his minimalist vision was Iceland’s southern coast with its volcanic and glacial otherworldliness.

Michael’s images are available as limited edition prints in our store.

Frozen Life XIV © Michael Schlegel

Seljalandsfoss IV © Michael Schlegel

Towards the Atlantic II © Michael Schlegel

Wall Street Journal Photo Editor Rebecca Horne interviews renowned architect Glen Coben.

You may not know Glen Coben, but you probably know his work. During his 48 years as an architect, Mr. Coben has built many familiar spaces. Among Glen & Company’s recent projects are 59 restaurants, with 47 of them in New York, such as Mario Batali’s Del Posto. Before opening Glen & Company in 2000, some of Mr. Coben’s projects included: The Four Continents Bridge and The Isuzu Space Station in Japan; domestic and international NIKETOWNS; The Theater for the Academy Awards and The Hacienda Football Stadium in Los Angeles; and The Coca-Cola Sky Field in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Coben takes a collaborative approach to designing interiors, and sees artwork as an essential element.

Interior shot of the Hilton New York Fashion District © Hilton Fashion District Hotel

RH: When planning spaces, how do you think about integrating artworks?

GC: We begin by understanding the mission of the project….what are the goals, what is the function, what will the guests experience in the spaces/spaces?  Once we have the “outline” of the story, we begin to solve the problem spatially.  Once we have the flow and spaces defined, we look at focal points and what nuances will assist us in adding layers to the narrative.

RH: How does this work–can you give an example?

GC: We designed a hotel which originally opened as “fashion 26 – A Wyndham Hotel” (it is now referred to as Hilton Fashion District).  Our focus was to bring the notion of American Garment-making into a narrative.  The front desk was designed as an homage to a sewing table….we commissioned an artist to create cast aluminum “bobbins” that are used to create a screen to hide the computer monitors.  We also commissioned the artist Devorah Sperber to create a wall hanging piece as a focal element in the Lobby.  Devorah works in spools of thread, which were the perfect complement to the theme!  We also commissioned several photographers to create a series of images for the guest rooms….these images are of details of garment making….from a close-up of a sewing machine’s needle to a pile of buttons and the knot of a tie.

RH: Can you elaborate a bit on what you mean by “story”?

GC: The “story” of a project is the narrative we use to create a connection between the project and the guest.  We always strive to “localize” and customize the guest experience…whether it is a retail store for Nike that tells the guest all about the product and imbues the space with the values of the brand, or a restaurant for a chef such as Dr. Miguel Sanchez Romera, where the story told was all about him–where he studied, where he practiced his medicine and what his passions are. The hard part is creating the narrative, but once it is established, all future design decisions are based on that “story”.

RH: How does art change the identity of a space? Do you work with images that play off shapes or colors already built into the space?

"After Mondrian (Fashion 26)", site specific commission by Devorah Sperber, 2009 1632 spools of thread, stainless steel ball chain and hanging apparatus Dimensions 59.5 x 59.5"

GC: Art selected or commissioned carefully adds to the overall narrative of the design. Conversely, art hung on a wall just for the sake of it is like a bad music soundtrack–it is obvious that it just wasn’t thought out!

RH: Are there guidelines you can use for both kinds of spaces- a home and a hotel room, or are they at odds with each other?

GC: No rules. Except the pieces need to “mean” something. Just as our designs are meant to tell stories, each of the parts of the puzzle need to add to that narrative.

RH: What is the most important function art can have in a space, in addition to adding to the design narrative?

GC: It shouldn’t smack the guest in the face–it should be in harmony with the space and surroundings.

Happy New Year Lux Archivers!

Kim Høltermand, our first artist of 2012, doesn’t have your typical curriculum vitae. It begins with his job description: Fingerprint Expert for the Crime Scene Unit of The Danish National Police. Now it’s common for artists to have day jobs, but this has got to be a first.

With this in mind, it makes sense that Kim is drawn to mysterious landscapes. He is attracted to the light in the early mornings when fog engulfs the Danish countryside — transforming familiar objects into intriguing characters. The lush, seductive images invite the viewer to undertake their own investigations.

Visit our shop to own one of these beautiful images. Prices start as low as $100 for a limited-edition print.

The Trees and Deserted City One © Kim Høltermand

We’re excited to introduce the very talented Steven Wohlwender to the Lux Archive team this week. Steven has a masterful way of turning common sights into uncommon images. His photographs have a delicate pastel palette that consistently lull us into a dream-like state.

For Steven, bringing dreams to reality is completely intentional.  He wants us to awaken to the charm of the world that surrounds us. It may sound “cliché” as Steven says, but he means it. He writes:

“Seek out the beauty, and don’t linger on the ugliness. Get out, at any time of the day, in any condition, because there’s a really good chance you’ll see something worth appreciating in life.”

Love Steven’s images? You can own them! Purchase his work in our shop where limited-edition museum-quality prints starts as low as $100.

Shore and Colors & Two Swimmers at Sunrise © Steven Wohlwender

Wall Street Journal Photo Editor Rebecca Horne tells us why art might be the best gift idea out there.

This year, please someone you love by giving them something they want. Not something they need. Sure, I could probably use some new socks. But would I be happy to see them under the tree? No, I would not! When I want to really make someone shine, I think wish list, not to do list.

A gift from Rebecca's collection

My friends and I have given each other art over the years– with happy results. Giving visual art requires thoughtful attention to detail, but the rewards are rich and lasting. The most cherished gifts I’ve received are the images I have on my walls that remind me of my friends, our shared history, and the open space of imagination.

When buying art for friends I’ve strived to make it extra special by finding images that reference an experience we have in common. I’ve also given pictures including something that I know the recipient likes. One year I gave my homesick friend from Hawaii a gorgeous vintage botanical specimen print of the Hawaiian Ti plant, (also known as the Good Luck Tree). She was delighted with the print and treasured it with shrine-like placement in her apartment for many years. I’ve also given or received photographs of a beloved landscape or person, or a painting with a particular motif or pattern. Taking this approach makes the gift more than a pretty picture– it becomes a special message, something that strengthens the understanding and social bond between you.

I also keep the size of the image in mind– do they have room for a larger print? Or is a smaller, more intimate print more appropriate? I try to keep the frame simple and clean, or give it unframed, in protective wrapping if I’m not confident about the available framing choices.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that giving art also provides an undeniable feel-good boost—especially because it is one way to foster creativity. After all, your money goes to an artist, and you’ve surprised the recipient with something unexpected that can give years of pleasure.

Today we are thrilled to introduce Rebecca Horne a new contributor to the Lux Archive blog!

Rebecca Horne is Photo Editor on the weekend edition for The Wall Street Journal and contributor to the Ideas Market and Photo Journal blogs on WSJ.com. Previously she was the Photo Director at Discover Magazine. At Discover she produced photography that garnered awards from PDN, American Photography, and Folio Magazine and launched and wrote a photography blog, Visual Science. Her own work in photography has been exhibited in the US and internationally.

Rebecca will take it from here — introducing the subject of a recent interview she did with renowned art collector Douglas Nielsen:

Douglas Nielsen’s art collection has attracted attention not just from people lucky enough to see it in his Arizona loft, but also from museum-goers. The Douglas Nielsen collection was the subject of an exhibition “Thanks for Being With Us: Contemporary Art from the Douglas Nielsen Collection” at the Tucson Museum of Art in July 2010. A former dancer, Douglas Nielsen has been a guest teacher and choreographer at more than 40 universities throughout the United States and abroad. Among the numerous awards and honors Nielsen has garnered are four fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a performing arts fellowship from the Arizona Commission on the Arts. Nielsen’s work in dance influences the way he appreciates visual arts, and how he has built his personal collection. He took some time out to discuss his approach with me for Lux Archive.

Photo © Ed Flores. Douglas Nielsen with his art collection.

Rebecca Horne: How do you feel about the works in your collection over time? Has the work aged well?

Douglas Nielsen: In a word, YES.  I re-appreciate the collection every time I review it.  I couldn’t part with any of it.  Before I acquire a fine art photograph I ask myself (as Avedon once said), can it ‘hold the wall’.  If I don’t think so – I buy the book.  I have way too many books – monograms and museum catalogues.  In a way it’s a shame to have so many closed books around with fantastic images hidden inside them – but there is no need to ‘own’ everything – or have it in full view.  But, back to your question, yes, what I do collect has definitely passed the test of time.

Eona Holding Zebra Skull © Herb Ritts. A piece from Nielsen's collection.

RH: How has your work as a choreographer influenced the way you look at art and built your collection?

DN: Choreography is such an ephemeral art form.  Now you see it, now you don’t.  The body is necessary in dance.  A writer can write alone, and a painter can paint alone, but I can’t choreograph by myself.  I need people.  When the curator of the Tucson Museum of Art chose various images from my collection for the exhibit, I realized, that many of my photographs have reference to the human condition.

The frozen moment of a majority of my photographs capture the body in various circumstances: Bruce in his car by Nan Goldin,  A man with a fan by Jo Ann Callis,  Two men with colored circles over their faces by John Baldessari, The fat lady in the circus with her little dog troubles by Diane Arbus, Cindy Sherman as pregnant, a man with a Zebra skull over his face by Herb Ritts, The beauty composites by Nancy Burson– they all inspire and trigger my imagination. Gesture is essential to my work.  I’m as much interested in ‘pedestrian’ movement, as in technical ‘dance’ vocabulary. To me, a dancer is primarily ‘human’, and secondarily a ‘dancer’.

RH: How do you feel about collecting photography vs. other types of art like painting and sculpture? What is your favorite photo or photographer from your collection?

DN: Favorites are fickle.  I don’t have ‘favorites’.  Seriously, I treat every part of my collection equally.  There is a trick to that though – I move things around a lot.  If an image stays in one place too long, I stop seeing it.  By rearranging my collection, I rediscover it, and see it fresh again for the next while. In my loft, painting, sculpture, and photography all live intermingled equally.

Cindy Sherman, New York City © Annie Leibovitz. A piece from Nielsen's collection.

RH: You’ve talked about trying to steer away from the “hierarchy of ‘what’s important’ ” –how do you do this, in practice?

DN: I remember seeing Andy Warhol at the flea market on Sixth Avenue one Sunday morning in the early 1970’s buying a cookie jar.  I thought how refreshing that was that he could see the value in that.  I have often been accused –especially by designers – of placing a five dollar hula doll next to a Burtynsky photograph – as if that breaks some rule of thumb.  To me, they both have integrity.  I absolutely do not perceive or measure anything by it’s ‘market value’. In my mind’s eye there is no ‘hierarchy’.

RH Do you look specifically for work that you feel will continue to be strong and relevant over time? If so, how do you try to do that?

DN: I very rarely search or ‘look’ for a specific work.  The work finds me – and when that happens, we become friends.  I trust that it will last, and so far it has. Like a relationship, the loyalty and respect continues as long as there is no betrayal.  And, as of yet, nothing in my collection has betrayed me.

This week we welcome artist Ross Honeysett. Ross has had an illustrious career working with institutions like Vogue and the National Portrait Gallery that seek him out for his ability to create striking images characterized by bold beautiful aesthetics. His images are often simple and straightforward but creating them isn’t always as easy as it looks.

© Ross Honeysett

Dog, Ross’ pitch perfect portrait of a thoroughbred Weimaraner looking thoroughly comfortable, was a complex creation. Ross held a casting of over twenty canines just to find his winning match. He then went to enormous effort to combine multiple images together on a computer to create what appears to be such a natural pose. Sure, we’ve all seen that trick right?

With holiday shopping on everyone’s mind we would be remiss if we didn’t recommend Ross’ prints as a great gift idea. Dog, hanging over the family couch perhaps? Or you could get really cute and hang it over Fido’s favorite sitting spot. Plus don’t forget South Sea Trader. We see that fitting in perfectly in the guest bathroom or the den.

What do you think? Where would you hang these prints?  Shoot us a comment on our Facebook page and be sure to checkout the rest of the prints in our shop.

Also, we’re offering free shipping anywhere in the USA on all our prints from now until this Friday. Enter coupon code HOLIDAY_SHIP

Plus, don’t forget: order your prints by Friday to make sure they arrive in time for Christmas. Happy hunting everyone!

As winter approaches here in New York we can’t help but fantasize about escaping to warm exotic places. So today, with vacation on our mind, we introduce the work of UK artist Alex Telfer. Alex, is a highly decorated commercial and fine art photographer who has been honored by Communication Arts, Luerzer’s Archive, AOP, Paris PX3, IPA and many others. He frequently travels the globe shooting commissions and working on fine art projects.

Alex is constantly in motion but his vision is always steady. From the silky waters surrounding an island in Scotland to a bright beach scene in Spain, Alex brings the same artful eye to each landscape he encounters. His images are beautifully constructed and easy to appreciate. They leave us feeling relaxed and restful. It’s not quite a vacation but we’re happy to have had the trip.

Brighten your winter wall décor or give the perfect holiday gift! Purchase one of Alex’s prints or dozens of others at the Lux Archive shop.

Be sure to join us on our Facebook and Twitter @LuxArchive to stay up to date on news and special deals!

© Alex Telfer

Today we’re excited to welcome artist David Ryle to the Lux Archive roster. David is an award-winning London based photographer who’s created a beautiful series of aerial photographs titled Desert Studies. David, fascinated by the “idea of nothingness,” flew a small plane throughout the desolate Mojave Desert in search of scenery that fulfilled his vision. The result is wonderful minimalist images that elevate forgettable landscapes into works of art. David writes:

“With roads dissecting through near barren spaces, the stripped down colour palette aims to show the harshness of the place, but also attempts to reveal a beauty through shape and form.”

What do you think of David’s images? Let us know! Join the conversation on our Facebook page and on Twitter @LuxArchive

Desert Studies © David Ryle

It’s Cyber Monday and we’re excited!
 
For today only get free shipping on all our prints shipped within the USA or a discount on international shipping. During checkout simply enter coupon code CYBERMON11
 
Start browsing now and enjoy!

Thanksgiving is on our doorstep and we can smell the stuffing from here! We want to embrace the spirit and share our thanks and appreciation with everyone who’s supported us this year.

We’ve been thrilled to receive loads of wonderful feedback, sell many prints and participate in some very special events over the past few weeks. November especially has been quite a month for us.

First, SLPS founder Casey Kelbaugh invited us to help sponsor the annual Slideluck Fundraiser. It was a super hip event with many collectors, gallery owners, artists and just all around cool people. Our artists Julian Wolkenstein, James Knight-Smith, Michael Schlegel, Michael Hall, Geoffrey H. Short and Joe Baran donated prints. All our prints sold well and the proceeds went to support SLPS and the Slideluck Youth Initiative. Thank you to Casey, producer Carly Planker and our participating artists.

Courtesy SLPS

Next, our director Zack Seckler was invited to speak on the BIG TALK panel, a sold out symposium celebrating the launch of the esteemed American Photography 27 and American Illustration 30 competitions. Thank you to Persia Tatar and Richard Kelly plus fellow panelists Jeff Newelt and Alex Johnson.

Then, just last week, we were invited to support the wonderful charity Pencils of Promise. It was a glamorous, star-studded event that included celeb guests Justin Bieber, Shaq, Usher and many more. Joe Baran donated one of his “Visitors” prints which was bid on more times then we could count and helped contribute to raising more then a million bucks in one night for PoP! Thank you to Lindsey Wilner, Susie Typher and Kate Shulte for including us as a small part of a very big evening.

Courtesy Pencils of Promise

Lastly, thank you to everyone who has written about us, written to us, purchased our prints and helped spread the word about the birth of our very new enterprise.

We’ve got lots of wonderful new artwork to introduce you to in the coming weeks and months so stay tuned. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

To start your weekend off on an artistic path we’re introducing you to the beautiful work of Lux Archive’s newest artist Mark Mawson. Reminiscent of the exotic creatures of our oceans’ depths, Mark creates imaginative images of colored inks blending with underwater landscapes. The result is ethereal abstract forms, each a unique vision, never to be repeated the same way again.

Mark has been working on his Aqueous series since 2005. The work is in many private collections around the globe and has won several awards and press. In 2009, he was a finalist in the Sovereign Asian Art Awards. In 2010, he was awarded a Gold and Platinum Award in the Dabomba Creative Awards and a Silver in the 2010 International Aperture Awards.

What do these images remind you of? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page and on Twitter @LuxArchive

© Mark Mawson

Today we introduce London artist Guy Sargent. From long exposures of city skylines to meditative moments on the beach, Guy takes the chaos of our world and reduces it to beautiful tranquil images. His camera transforms moments in time into timeless moments. Guy writes:

“I feel like a witness to a moment in time when nothing happened, like time standing still, only, you can see the movement – time never stops, it just feels that way sometimes.”

Guy has had two exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Arts in London and has been recognized by AOP, Ag International Journal and The Independent On Sunday.
 
Do Guy’s images move you? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page and on Twitter @LuxArchive

© Guy Sargent

Happy Friday everyone! Today we’re introducing artist Michael Hall. Michael has been creating award-winning imagery for over twenty years. However, following a near fatal cycling accident in 2007, he completely reevaluated his work and decided to devote himself to creating art to promote ecological awareness.

Since that life-changing event he has produced a beautiful body of artwork that has received gallery exposure throughout Europe, Australia and the United States and has been endorsed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Michael is a Hassselblad Masters finalist, has been named Photographer of the Year by the Federation of European Photographers and has received recognition from Communication Arts, PDN, Graphis and Luerzer’s Archive.

What do you think of Michael’s work? Join the conversation on our Facebook page and on Twitter @LuxArchive. Limited edition prints are available in our online shop starting at only a hundred bucks!

© Michael Hall

We thought it would be helpful for visitors like you to see what our prints look like framed. So we’ve done exactly that! All of the artwork on Lux Archive now comes with two views: the art by itself, and the art in a simple white frame. Visit our shop for a closer look.

Shapes, sizes, and colors of frames are endless (!) but we hope this triggers your imagination for framing one of our beautiful prints in your home.

See our Do’s and Don’ts for Displaying Art for a great tips about framing fine photography and stay tuned to the blog for more informative articles in the coming weeks. Frames are for example only, we only sell fine art prints. Check Yelp for great framers in your area!