"The ugly truth is, books are made of books."
Cormac McCarthy

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William Eggleston, Red Ceiling, 1973

Many artists aspire towards originality: to say something that has never been said, to photograph something as yet unseen. It is a worthy aspiration, however, the creative act does not occur in a vacuum.

The work we create emerges from a well of experiences, interactions, and references, often unconscious, that we have encountered over our lifetime. In seeking to establish our own voice, the line between inspiration, reference, and theft blurs.

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Christian Patterson, Christmas Ceiling, 2002

Our next show, Reference Materials, explores these distinctions by asking photographers to review and address their source material.

The exhibition opens March 13th, 2026. We look forward to seeing you there.