Exhibition // STEPHEN AVENUE LOCATION

Blake Little: New West
Curated by Wayne Baerwaldt
July 2 - 26, 2015
Opening Reception Thursday, July 2, 7 PM
C - Stephen Avenue Location

/ Los Angeles-based photographer Blake Little produced more than 175 photographic portraits of rural Albertans during the summer of 2012. With the guiding support of Stavely area ranchers Glen and Kelly Hall, Little was able to meet and photograph a diverse group of subjects in Arrowwood, Airdrie, Nanton, Ponoka and Calgary. From one community to the next, Little shot dozens of portraits, always in expectation of capturing that perfect moment among people that fascinated him. Thirty-six portraits were chosen by Little and exhibition curator Wayne Baerwaldt to be included in New West.

Little’s work has been exhibited in New York, Seattle, Los Angeles and Japan and in 2014 he had his first museum exhibition, Blake Little Photographs: Gay Rodeo 1988-1992, at the Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, IN.  He has several books to his credit including Dichotomy (1997), The Company of Men (2011), Manifest (2013) and Preservation (2015). Little is represented by Western Projects Gallery, Los Angeles.

Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Little moved to Los Angeles in 1982 after graduating with a photography degree from Seattle’s Central College and became part of the vibrant 1980’s LA art scene. His outstanding artist portrait series, which included David Hockney, John Baldessari and Ed Rusha, led to commercial assignments in the entertainment industry. Since then he has photographed a wide array of Hollywood television and film industry stars from Tom Cruise to Lucille Ball.  Little’s photographs have been featured in the New York Times Magazine, American Photography, Rolling Stone, People Magazine, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, Time Magazine and many other clients over the last twenty years. 

Image Credit:  Kelly McIntyre, Calgary Stampede, 2012, Photograph, 30” X 40”, Courtesy of the artist.