"Split Pear #2"

Program

BFA 82 Photography and Imaging

A pioneer of digital collage, Russ Widstrand has achieved international recognition as an artist and visionary. Soon after he opened his first photography studio in Los Angeles, he was sought by global design agencies and Fortune 100 companies such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Visa, J.P. Morgan and ARCO. Through his alternative photographic techniques and conceptual collaboration with clients, he carved a new niche. His accolades include awards from Communication Arts, AIGA, Nikon, Print, the Mead Show, the Art Directors Club of New York and Los Angeles, and the Society of Publication Designers. In early 2000, his photography took a more emotional and introspective direction with the Pear Series—conceptually gestated over long periods and shot quickly on Polaroid film—which gave new voice to Widstrand’s work. He continues to pursue his conceptual approach to photography for galleries, designers and personal projects.