NANCY EDELSTEIN

Artist’s Biography / Statement 

In her work as a conceptual fine art photographer, Nancy has engaged in multiple genres: landscape, interiors, still-life and environmental portraiture - exploring the idea of memory, perception and light. Her photographic fine art prints and hand-made artist books have been exhibited nationally since 2001. Graduating with a B.F.A. from the University of Michigan, she founded a nationally recognized design firm where she was acting art director for many years. She then turned her interest to custom book design, creating one of a kind volumes for prominent families and corporations. Nancy returned to a devoted art practice eight years ago, engaged in interdisciplinary exploration. As an avid learner, she continued her studies under the guidance of Lucas Samaras, Marie Cosindas, Mary Ellen Mark, Keith Carter, Aline Smithson and others. Nancy recently completed her MFA from MICA, Maryland Institute College of Art.

“I am drawn to common materials, used in uncommon ways, to enhance perception. I have been a conceptual photographer for many years, and have a continued interest in the perception of light and shadow. I have recently transitioned to a new phase of art making induced by my interest in three dimensional space, combining photographic and sculptural elements. My subject and medium are both light, fed by my affinity for interior spaces, and the color of light from multiple sources bouncing off walls. I’m equally interested in the brilliant intensity of pure sunlight casting shadows through the window. Such a light is always welcome, and asks to be noticed during its fleeting visits. The challenge is to find new ways of looking to discover light’s properties in ways I haven’t seen before.” 

Nancy lives and works in Seattle, Washington.

Curriculum Vitae

Exhibitions

2023- The Shape of Light, Method Gallery, Solo Show, August-September, Seattle

2019 - Second/Third Year Show, Maryland Institute College of Arts, July

2018 - Month of Photography Los Angeles, Photo Book Exhibition, Lucie Foundation, Venice Arts, April

2018 - 8th Annual Self Published Photobook Show, Griffin Museum of Photography, Winchester, Massachusetts (Curated by Karen Davis and Paula Tognarelli), March

2017 - 8th Annual Self-Published Photobook Show, Davis Orton Gallery, Hudson, New York (Curated by Karen Davis and Paula Tognarelli)

2017 - FRESH: Fifteen Photographers, Los Angeles Center of Photography, Personal Projects from the Aline Smithson Workshop

2016 - Night Photography: Dusk to Dawn, PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont (Juror Lance Keimig)

2016 - Out of the Woods: Fairy Tales Re-Imagined, Wood Sentries Gallery, Somerville, Massachusetts (Curated by Boriana Kantcheva and Micah Eglinton-Woods)

2016 - Griffin Museum, 22 Juried Show Blog Exhibition, Winchester, Massachusetts (Curated by Paula Tognarelli)

2016 - PH21 Gallery, Juried Competition - Honorable Mention, Budapest, Hungary (Juror Zsolt Batori)

2016 - Women's Works Show, Nave Gallery, Woodstock, Illinois 

2015 - Friday Night Dinners, Studio J, Seattle, Washington

2015 - 2nd Photographic Competition, Peter Miller Fine Art, Providence, Rhode Island (Juror Paula Tognarelli) 

2007 - Oxacan Portraits, Arosa, Seattle, Washington 

2005 - Photography 4th Image Biennial Exhibition, Wellington Gray Gallery, North Carolina (Juror Maggie Taylor)

2004 - Visual Proof, Photographic Center Northwest 9th Annual Competition - Honorable Mention, Seattle, Washington (Juror Roy Flukinger)

2002 - Time, Space and the Image, Group Exhibition, Side Show Gallery, Seattle, Washington

2001 - Pacific Northwest Annual Exhibition, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, Washington (Juror Sue Spaid)

Collections

 2023 Swarthmore College Libraries, Friday Night Dinners, artist book, PA.

2001 Bailey-Boushay House Collection, Glisten, Seattle, Washington

Press

2019 - Musee Magazine Feature: Woman Crush Wednesday: Nancy Edelstein, http://museemagazine.com/culture/2019/2/13/woman-crush-wednesday-nancy-edelstein

2018 - Lenscratch: Nancy Edelstein: First Year, http://lenscratch.com/2018/11/nancy-edelstein-first-year/

Professional Experience

1979 - 1995 Principal - Edelstein Associates Advertising
2011 - 2015 Principal - Biographica Custom Book Design 

Education

2018-2021 - MFA PROGRAM, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore

1999 - 2006 - Photographic Center Northwest

1973 - BFA - University of Michigan

Los Angeles Photographic Center Workshops
2017 - Aline Smithson - The Personal Project

Santa Fe Photographic Workshops 2014 - Aline Smithson - Photographing with Intention
2012 - Cig Harvey - The Personal Photographic Image

Travel Workshops 2009 - ICP New York, Bejing 2005 / 2006 - Mary Ellen Mark, Oaxaca, Mexico 1979 - Lucas Samaras, Marie Cosindas, ICP New York, Venezia '79