Catherine Opie
°1961, Sandusky, US – lives and works in Los Angeles
One of the defining artists of her generation, photographer Catherine Opie is known for her portraits and landscapes. She has frequently combined these two elements by training her camera on how people take possession of different landscapes—from high-school football players on the field or ice fishermen on frozen lakes, to surfers waiting for the next wave.
Opie recently returned to the genre of street photography, elaborating on the relationship between people and places. Her latest photographs present political demonstrations and gatherings—ranging from the inauguration of President Obama to Tea Party rallies. Drawing on the long and illustrious tradition of American landscape painting and documentary photography, like that of Berenice Abbott and Robert Frank, Opie affords us a look at democracy in action.
(Courtesy of Hatje Cantz)
Catherine Opie – Untitled #1-#14 from Surfers, 2002-2003
Catherine Opie – Dyke, 1993
Catherine Opie – High school football, 2012
Catherine Opie – Kiss My Genders , installation view at Hayward Gallery, London in 2019
Catherine Opie – Matt and Jo, 1993
Catherine Opie – Jo, 1993
Opie has exhibited in museums worldwide including at ICA, Boston; Guggenheim New York; Hammer Museum, Los Angeles; Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus; MCA Chicago, Chicago; and Walker Art Center, Minneapolis. Important group shows include Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; St. Louis Art Museum, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; and Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Copenhagen.
Catherine Opie’s works are included in prominent collections internationally, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; UCLA Hammer Museum, Los Angles; MoMA, New York; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal; Tate Gallery, London and Walker Art Gallery, National Museums Liverpool, UK.
Catherine Opie is represented by the following galleries;
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