Carl Patow
What I Saw at the Museum

Artspace Member Spotlight Exhibition

October 6 - October 28, 2023
Elisabeth Flynn-Chapman Gallery

Photography

Artist Statement

My digital photographs invite you to explore the art and environment of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, a place close to my heart and just a stone's throw from my home. Through my photographs, I've sought to go beyond the surface of individual artworks, delving into the relationships they share with one another and their surroundings. In this visual narrative, the museum's treasures are not isolated entities, but threads in a rich network of connections. As visitors walk through the galleries, an ecosystem of relationships unfolds, created by the interactions between different artworks, their settings and the people who pause to behold them. There's a dialogue to be discovered – of art, nature, human presence, and the sense of place. These photographs extend an invitation to transform the museum experience from a simple stroll to a continuous, interwoven journey. 

The images were created using a Samsung NX-1 mirrorless digital camera. 

Biography:

Carl Patow creates digital and community-based art based on significant contemporary issues, such as inequity, the environment, and societal forces shaping masculinity. His digital photographs rework and reconfigure recognizable images through photographic layering and image manipulation. Awards include local and national recognition for film, video, interactive art, and continuing education. Academic achievements include a BA from Duke University, and an MFA from VCU. His home and studio are in Richmond, VA. As a volunteer mentor, he guides eighth-grade art students at Richmond’s Albert Hill Middle School, and VCU students at Artspace Gallery. His works are included in collections of the Duke University Archives, Virginia Commission for the Arts, James River Association, Valentine Museum, AmeriFirst Home Mortgage, TPT Minnesota Public Media, Meta, and private collectors. 

Website: www.carlpatow.com
Instagram @carlpatow