“Most of these photographs were made after I had been photographing for forty-three years. They come from an appreciation of things, of time and relationships, that move slowly. They are things that do not change much and make quiet sounds of pleasure or desperation. Death is not here, any more than that it is everywhere. Older now, I do not look for the agitation of youth or have illusions and pretensions of crusading to solve an old problem in new clothes.” –Jeffrey Silverthorne, Summer, 2019
Making his haunting debut into the art world in the early 1970’s, Jeffrey Silverthorne‘s Morgue document became a foundation of his career.
LOOKING
Photographs by Jeffrey Silverthorne
September 7 – October 26, 2019
Artist Reception Saturday, September 7, 2019 from 5 – 8 pm
Throughout the years, his subject matter incorporated sex, love, loss, violence, betrayal, identity and other subjects of human nature. He does not tread lightly with his art, which is to say, he has no fear in his use of metaphor.
PDNB Gallery has represented Jeffrey Silverthorne since 1999. This exhibition will include, as stated above, more recent images. The lightness of daily observations is not as heavy handed. We see random portraits of friends, strangers, children and even some serene, colorful landscapes. Color is used more often in this later work, where black and white was mostly his default.
Some earlier work will be included, including his brutal bullfight series, which Silverthorne illustrates in intense color. Some images from his 1970’s transvestite series, as well as his seminal morgue series will be exhibited.
Jeffrey Silverthorne recently retired from teaching at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. He holds an M.F.A., an MA in Teaching, and a B.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design. His work is represented in many museum collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York City, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, MFA Boston, ICP, New York City, Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France, and the Musée de l’Elysée, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Many exhibition catalogs and monographs have been published, including:
Morgue. Stanley/Barker, UK 2017
Studio Work, Pascaline Mulliez, France, 2016
Portraits & Figures. Les editions de l’Oeil, France, 2013
Directions for Leaving: Photographs 1971-2006, Fotografisk Center, Denmark, 2007
Boystown, The Perfume of Desire. Galerie Wolfsen, Denmark, 2009
Travel Plans. Noorderlicht, The Netherlands, 2011
Photographs. Book Beat Gallery, Michigan, USA, 1993
The artist will be attending the opening, Saturday, September 7, 2019
Looking: Photographs by Jeffrey Silverthornw, will be on view through October 26, 2019
