Since its inception, photography has branched out and formed many verticles within various genres. Like painting, the medium offers photographs rooted in reality and fiction. Sometimes, the boundaries between the two blur, and we notice a moment providing greater depth about a theme or a subject. The fictitious images could be achieved in various ways, from stylized studio portraits to artistic slow-shutter images. However, there is a third way to accomplish this, which has become quite prominent in recent years: mixed media photography.
If you have been observant of social media and photography festivals, you will notice that this genre has become more mainstream in most places. In fact, sometimes, even galleries exhibit group shows of mixed media photography. With such an obvious trend change, we began to wonder whether this genre is more favored due to social media or a more accepted form of expression today like other art photography genres? To answer the query, we reached out to one of the most experienced art dealers with over 40 years in the fine art photography market, Robert Mann.
The Beginning of Mixed Media
Before we get into what Robert said, let’s have a look at the inception of the genre. According to Tate, a chain of art galleries in Britain, mixed media was first invented in the 20th century by painters Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Both close collaborators, the painters, took their cubist artworks a step further by using multiple elements in their paintings. In 1912, Picasso, known for shattering boundaries, utilized oil paint, oilcloth, pasted paper, and rope in the first mixed media collage titled Still Life with Chair Caning.
However, by the definition given above, one could argue that mixed media photography began in the mid-1800s when artists hand-painted monochromatic images to bring portraits to life. This technique was used until autochrome by the Lumiere Brothers became more mainstream in the medium.
In more recent years, photographers utilize embroidery, text, cutouts of magazines, real-world elements, and more to get their commentary across. For instance, Judith Gold, one of the early practitioners of mixed media photography, used her portraits with Hollywood magazine cutouts to advocate feminist issues regarding the portrayal of women in the mass media. Similarly, Joan Lyons employed screen-printing and photo-quilt making to share her experiences as a woman during the Vietnam War. The practice has continued on a larger scale in recent years, with many photographers mixing digital pictures with various elements.
What Makes Mixed Media Photography So Vital?
Returning to the article’s original thought, let us elaborate on Robert Mann’s statement. “I do not think the genre of art we are delving into would be regarded as a mainstream interest or discipline, which is what I find compelling about it,” he told us in an email correspondence. To clarify what he means, Robert notes that “mainstream” as a phrase in the art market means that something “is not saying anything new and interesting.”
In fact, Robert is an ardent supporter of mixed media photography, and through his gallery, he has promoted the work of fine art photographers, many of whom are emerging talents. “My gallery has been actively exploring the synthesis of fiber art and photography for over 10 years. This was encouraged in no small way by my spouse Orly Cogan, an internationally recognized fiber artist,” he explains. Robert’s first gallery exhibition, launched in 2014, was titled The Embroidered Image. The artist had unique approaches, and “some are dealing with significant issues within their artworks.” A few years later, in 2021, a follow-up exhibition titled FotoFiber took place. The exhibition featured a group of women artists on themes of identity, femininity, health, and environment. So, what m
So, what makes him choose the medium so often? In Robert’s words, it is because “the digital world has nearly destroyed the tactile aspect of experiencing art, especially photography.” Many photographers today depend on digital editing, which often results in the use of presents, rendering all the photographs a similar look. In fact, we wrote about it a while back. Similarly, with the era of AI-enhanced images taking over the world, there is a huge discrepancy in what we consider photography. “To that end, we are championing some hybrid forms of art that can not adequately translate to a flat screen, thereby beckoning the viewer to experience it in person and truly take in all the subtle and engaging nuances,” Robert adds.
Robert is one of the few who wants to remind the audience of the joy of seeing an entirely human-made image hung on a wall. These artists combine photography with another art form to make the images their own, as if leaving their mark—a unique signature—on every photograph. This curation is much better than allowing AI algorithms to determine what makes AI photography great.
