About Brian's Work
For Brian photography is an escape, a way to explore the world, studying every detail of the simple things. It gives him an opportunity to find beauty in unexpected places and in all walks of life. It forces him to challenge and push the bounds of his comfort zone, enabling him to grow as a person and as an artist. Over the years he has explored a wide range of photographic narratives while remaining loyal to his black and white roots
Brian has had a number of notable accomplishments which include a few international contests, features in publications, art shows, galleries, and large commissioned projects. These accomplishments only help fuel the fire that keeps him going.
About Brian
Brian Cattelle
CV
PROJECTS
The Meaning of Life| the United States of America | 2020 to Present
A spin-off from the Gummo Land project, through the lens of a Polaroid camera The Meaning of Life aims to question just that very thing. It contemplates questions about God, religion, spirituality, purpose, and the vastness of the universe. It asks if there is meaning in everything if each particle of light has a pre-determined destiny designed to perform a specific task geared towards a specific outcome. The project ponders that maybe this all just happened by happenstance and there really is no meaning to any of it.
Gummo Land| the United States of America | 2020 to Present
A series of original Polaroid photos inspired by the cult classic film Gummo. The series explores and celebrates the strange, awkward and weird. It lends homage to forgotten America, the America that’s honest real unpolished, and unapologetic. Politics aside, there is a truth you’ll never find in a high-end mall or gated community, a truth many of us can’t handle. We will always be flawed in the most fantastic of ways.
Gratitude Portrait Series Part 2 | Pennsylvania | 2018
Resulting from the success of the Gratitude Portrait Series Part 1, I was commissioned by Caron, a treatment center in Pennsylvania, to create unique photographs that represent the idea of gratitude in recovery. I interviewed alumni about their experience with gratitude and recovery. Based on these interviews, I imagined a creative concept that represented their feelings. These photographs are on permanent display at the Neag Medical Center in Wernersville Pennsylvania.
Gratitude Portrait Series Part 1 | South Florida | 2017
Commissioned by Caron Renaissance, a treatment center in South Florida, to create unique photographs that represent the idea of gratitude in recovery. I interviewed alumni about their feelings on gratitude. Based on these interviews, I formulated a creative concept that represented their thoughts. These photographs were displayed at their annual dinner event and have since been introduced as the featured art in their new medical facility.
90’s 3d Mashup | South Florida | 2017 – Present
In the spirit of exploring new and unique ideas in photography, I set out to use create this series using only techniques available in the 90’s. I played VHS tapes from popular 90’s movies on a CRT TV photographing the most notable scenes using a 35 mm film camera. I also photographed everyday scenes from the local area. Using a knife and tape I mashed the two scenes together. I separated the cyan and magenta colors creating a classing 90’s 3d image. Each composition includes 3d glasses.
Halloween Special | South Florida | 2017
I set out to create haunting images of possible ghost sightings. I photographed a number of subjects in creepy locations using long exposure techniques to give the illusion of a ghostly presence. In order to immerse the audience in the experience, these photos were introduced through a series of scary videos that set the stage for the haunting story behind the photograph and depicted the initial encounter with the ghost.
Love is | South Florida | 2016
Photographed raw cow hearts on various types of backgrounds such as ice, black cloth, butcher’s paper etc., to evoke reflection in the audience. The title of each photo in this Valentine’s Day themed project was “Love Is…,” leaving it up to the audience to finish the title – for example, “love is cold.”
BARE USA | Nationwide | 2014 – Present
A photography project that delves into studies of natural beauty in contrast with man-made decay by photographing nude models in abandoned locations across the United States. I am solely responsible for all aspects of this project: coordinating with models, researching locations, executing shoots, editing and producing final images, and arranging art shows, sales, marketing, and fundraising.
CONTESTS/AWARDS
Photographic Artists 13th Annual Open Juried Exhibit | (Online ) Cary, NC | 2021
Won 3rd place in a national photo competition for my piece “Ocala Experiments 01”.
Tedds Art Works | South Florida | 2017
Won first place and a cash award in “The Naughty Show” for an image from the BARE USA collection.
Black & White Mag Portfolio Contest | International | 2015
Merit winner for the 2015 portfolio contest for images from my BARE USA project, earning me a two-page spread in the 2015 special-edition portfolio issue of Black and White Magazine.
Grand Prix de la Decouverte | International | 2013
Recipient of the Juror Award of Merit in the street photography/documentary category of the Grand Prix de la Decouverte International Photography Contest for my image titled “Venice Beach Study.” The image caught the silhouette of a street performer as his partner flipped him in the air on the boardwalk of Venice Beach, California.
Capture the Unknown | Nationwide | 2012 – 2013
One of four grand prize winners earning over $30,000 in a nationwide photography contest by Marlboro. The challenge was to “Capture the Unknown” through the submission of up to twenty photographs. I chose to dive into the unknown myself by traveling through Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, capturing many interesting and thought-provoking images.
PUBLICATIONS
The Arts Paper | Palm Beach, FL | Sept 2020
A full spread in Palm Beach Arts Paper for my Covid 19 Self Studies and my efforts to raise money for those in need during the pandemic.
NORMAL Magazine No 12 | Paris, France | 2019
A full 10-page spread in Normal Magazines Architecture edition featuring images from my project BARE USA.
Palm Beach Post | Palm Beach County, FL | Jan 2019
Featured in the Palm Beach Post News Paper alongside a number of south Floridas greatest street artists for my photo-based mixed media works from my Born from the Streets Series. This work was part of the X Marks the Spot show and the Palm Beach Cultural Council.
Art & Culture of Palm Beach | Palm Beach County, FL | Winter 2019
Featured in the Winter edition of Art & Culture for my photo-based mixed media works from the Born from the Streets Series. This work was part of the X Marks the Spot show and the Palm Beach Cultural Council. This show featured some of the greatest South Florida Street artists.
West Palm Beach Magazine | South Florida | April 2017
A featured artist earning an interview from the arts and entertainment writer and former journalist for Rolling Stone Magazine, Sandra Schulman, resulting in a full article on my photography and photography-based art installations.
Daily Mail | United Kingdom | January 2016
Interviewed and featured in one of the United Kingdom’s largest publications for my project BARE USA.
Scene 360 | International | March 2015
Interviewed and featured in a front-page spread for Scene 360’s prestigious “Illusions” online fine art publication.
VOLO | International Print | March 2015
A featured photographer with a four-page spread in VOLO magazine, America’s number one nude art magazine. The spread focused on a photoshoot I did at the Cotton Belt Depot in St Louis, MO.
Miami New Times Miami | Print / Online | May 2014
A story in the Miami New Times online magazine focused on my nationwide photography project, BARE USA. The story discussed the vision of the project and included a number of featured images.
Art Hive Magazine | South Florida Print | Nov/Dec 2013
Featured as the “Artist of the Month” in the 2013 November-December issue of Art Hive Magazine. The feature included a brief interview and various photos from my fine art collection.
EXHIBITIONS/INSTALLATIONS
Photographic Artists 13th Annual Open Juried Exhibit | (Online ) Cary, NC | 2021
Annual juried art exhibit featuring photographers from all over the world. This exhibit and awards ceremony was held online due to the Corona Virus. The work I had featured in the show includes my Olaca Experiments piece. It won 3rd place.
Current Works 2020 | Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, Kansas City, MO | 2020
This is Kansas City Society for Contemporary Photography’s annual member’s juried exhibit. It is to showcase what photographic artists are doing today. All works must have been made in the past 18 months. They included a broad range of photography styles and processes. I had two-piece in the show, one from my emerging project “The Meaning o Life” a spin-off from my Gummo Land Polaroid series. It’s a self-portrait of me with a paper bag on my head. The other was a piece called Ocala Study which featured a woman covered in a black loth standing in front of a closed store.
Transitions and Displacement | Millepiani – Rome, Italy | July – Aug 2020
“Transitions” and “displacements” are the objects of reflection of the works on display from 10 July to 6 August 2020 at Millepiani Space in Rome. This show included a piece from my ongoing, unreleased, self-portrait series “Lost and Found”.
Art Plug Powerhouse | Maimi, FL | Dec 2019
An art show during the Miami Art week created by Marcel Katz featuring 60+ artists that fall within the full spectrum of creatives – from painters to sculptors to illustrators to designers, and Redbull motorcycle stunt shows nightly. I created a movie theater out of a shipping container. The movie theater was used to present my 35mm Mashup photos in 3D. Visitors could sit in the movie theater seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy my 3D art.
X Marks the Spot| Cultural Council of Palm Beach, Lake Worth, FL | Nov 2019
Featured in the Winter edition of Art & Culture for my photo-based mixed media works from the Born from the Streets Series. This work was part of the X Marks the Spot show and the Palm Beach Cultural Council. This show featured some of the greatest South Florida Street artists.
Atlanta Celebrates Photography | Atlanta, GA | Oct 2019
I participated in the ACP event with my experimental project PhotoDrop. Photo Drop was a new concept at the 2019 ACP. Essentially I dropped experimental photo exhibits across the city of Atlanta throughout the week. The works explored various subject matters. experimental photography techniques, and various methods of presentations.
Art Ft. Lauderdale | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | Jan 2019
Art Fort Lauderdale® combines the sale of Art and Luxury Waterfront Homes along the famed Intracoastal waterways. The audience is mixed and curious, with a portion being individuals that are also interested in purchasing luxury waterfront homes, lifetime art collectors, collectors of rare collectible cars, and people hungry for new artistic experiences. At this show, I presented the BARE USA view masters on single white, underlit, pedestals. A total of 6 pieces were sold, one of the highest volumes of sales at the show.
Aqua Maimi | Miami, FL | Dec 2018
Partook in the prestigious Aqua Maimi art show, a staple of the Maimi art week and Art Basil. Along with the Irreversible Projects, I transformed a hotel room closet into a world of graffiti and abandonment. In this room, I placed my art. 12 vintage view master containing 7 images from the BARE USA project filled the closet. Visitors could explore the close space, interact with the art, and view the images through the view master. Along with the BARE USA hardcover book, 8 pieces were sold.
Gratitude Portrait Series | Neag Medical Center Wernersville, PA | 2018 – Present
I have 12 photographs from the entire Gratitude Portrait series permanently installed in the Neag Medical Center in Wernersville Pennsylvania. These images now serve as a source of inspiration and comfort for those who are detoxing from drugs and alcohol, showing them the beauty that is possible in long term recovery.
ART Synergy at Art Palm Beach | West Palm Beach, FL | January 2018
“Art Palm Beach” is Palm Beach County’s answer to Miami’s Art Basil and as such has become one of the most anticipated art venues in the area. I showed my work under the representation of ART Synergy. The work was hand-selected by a panel of judges.
Gratitude Dinner | Delray Beach, FL | November 2017
Displayed 12 photographs from the “What is Gratitude” series at a fundraiser event held by Caron Renaissance. My images were integrated into a performance by “The Silhouettes,” seen on America’s Got Talent. A large number of images were sold and raffled off, benefiting the Save A Life Foundation. The photos will be a permanent fixture in Caron’s new medical facility in Pennsylvania and also offered at Caron’s New York City Gala.
The Box Gallery | West Palm Beach, FL | October 2017 – Present
Used antique View Masters for an installation as a creative solution to showing my black and white photography work. My photographs were printed on custom-made View Master reels. The View Masters sat atop an illuminated pedestal that acted as a light source for optimal viewing.
The Heart Show | Delray Beach, FL | February 2017
An annual event to promote awareness of the healing power of creative expression. I sold two pieces of my work, helping to raise funds for the organization Healing Through Expressive Art.
Cornell Museum | Delray Beach, FL | June 2016
I created an interactive display for my BARE USA images. Using old shelving and some 3D images, I produced an installation that pulled the audience into the world of exploration, immersing them in my work.
ART Synergy at Art Boca Raton | Boca Raton, FL | April 2016
“Art Boca” is one of Palm Beach County’s most prestigious art shows. I displayed my work with the representation of ART Synergy. The work was hand-selected by a panel of judges.
Indie Gogo / Kickstarter | International | Online 2014 – 2015
Ran successful Indie Gogo and Kickstarter crowdfunding campaigns that raised over $20,000 in total for the purpose of completing the BARE USA project.
Nude Nite | Orlando / Tampa / Miami, FL | 2014 – Present
Upon invitation, displayed and sold my work at the world-renowned “Nude Nite” art shows. These three-day events attract thousands of spectators and hundreds of artists interested in the general subject of nude art.
Miami Photo Salon / Art Basel | Miami, FL | Dec 2014
Awarded the honor of participating in the “Miami Photo Salon” exhibition, which took place in downtown Miami during the world-famous Art Basel event.
BARRE ++ | Boca Raton, FL | May 2014
An exhibition for my BARE USA project at a popular women’s yoga studio.
EDUCATION
University of Maine | Orono, ME | 2001-2006
Bachelor’s degree in New Media
Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a Concentration in Advertising
Westerdals School of Communications | Oslo, Norway | 2006-2008
Art Direction in Advertising Studies
Skiringssal folkehøyskole | Sandefjord, Norway | 2000-2001
Film and Video Studies