SFA exhibition showcases the evolution of portrait photography

Photographer Carlos Escolastico's "Presencia-1, 2010" is among the photographs featured in "The Face: The Evolution of Portrait Photography," which opens with a reception at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, in the Griffith Gallery on the SFA campus.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The International Photography Portrait Exhibition will open with a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, in Griffith Gallery on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

The exhibition, which has toured in galleries and museums in Paris and Russia, embraces artworks for more than 50 artists from 20 countries. The original size of the show will be somewhat limited to the space allowed in Griffith Gallery.

Curated by Andrey Martynov, "The Face: The Evolution of Portrait Photography" explores new and current trends in portrait photography from artists working in several countries, according to John Handley, director of SFA galleries.

International in scope, the exhibition demonstrates the variety of approaches from experiments with traditional analogue photography and applications of new technologies by such artists as Ben Hansen from Belgium; Atta Kim from South Korea; Roger Ballen from South Africa, and Laurence Gartel from the USA. The exhibition has been shown in the Russian cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk, as well as in Paris, France, Tokyo, Japan, and Arezzo, Italy, and has been seen by more than 25,000 visitors.

Martynov lives and works in Russia where he has been curating in the field of art for more than 15 years.

"He considers photography to have played an essential role in his work with modern and contemporary art," Handley said. "When the LeVall Gallery closed several years ago, he was invited to join the staff of the Novosibirsk State Art Museum, bringing with him his international connections and experience."

In 2006, Martynov organized the International Festival of Contemporary Photography entitled, "Different Dimension." He is currently the director of the Moscow Biennale Inc.

The show, which is part of the SFA School of Art's Gallery Series, will run through Oct. 31. Griffith Gallery is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive. Gallery hours are from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday during the regular fall and spring semesters.