George Pitts
Looking for aesthetic essences
Copyright © George Pitts
George Pitts is a Fine Art photographer, painter, and writer. His paintings, drawings, and photography have been shown in numerous exhibitions in the United States incl. New York at The Ledisflam Gallery, and The Drawing Center; Los Angeles: at The Antebellum Gallery, and Sometimes Madness Is Wisdom Gallery, and The University of California at San Bernardino; The University of Pennsylvania: Group Exhibition “This Is Not An Invitation To Rape Me” (March 2010); Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois; and abroad at Gallery Gora in Montreal; and in Tokyo. In 2009, The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction selected his photograph for their “Juried Art Exhibition” and is now in their Permanent Collection in Bloomington, Indiana.
" I think of my photographic work as being close to the concerns of a painter, looking for aesthetic essences, established through an identification with each subject."
Previously, Mr. Pitts was Director of Photography at LIFE Magazine from 2004-2007. And from 1993-2004, he was the Director of Photography at Vibe Magazine. In 2006, he was awarded The Lucie Award for “Picture Editor Of The Year.”
His writing and artwork have appeared in “S” Magazine (Denmark), The Partisan Review, The Paris Review, The New Tough, Big magazine, One World, Vibe, aRude, Juxtapoz, Next Level: a critical review of Photography (UK), Parenthesis, and other publications. He wrote the Introduction to “Marc Baptiste Nudes” (Rizzoli pub. 2007), the afterword to photographer Tony Ward’s first book, “Obsessions” (Edition Stemmle, 1998); the afterwords to photographer Sanders McNew’s second monograph, “Triptych: Sixteen months” (Blurb, 2010); the critical essay for Dana Lixenberg’s monograph, “United States” (Artimo/D.A.P. 2001); as well as introductory notes for Hans Neleman’s photo book, “Night Chicas” (Graphis, 2003). In the Fall of 2003, the critically and internationally acclaimed “VX: Ten Years of Vibe Photography,” was published by Abrams Books, which Mr. Pitts both edited, and wrote the essay “Mindstorm,” that appears in the foreword.
His own photographs have been published in The New York Times Magazine, New York Magazine, S Magazine, Complex, The New Tough, Vice, Nerve.com, Nerve Magazine, Table Brothers Gallery, SexTV (Canada), TinyVices.com, Karin + Raoul website: “Sleepwalkers Woman” and “Every Colour You Are” feature galleries, Karin + Raoul magazine, Eros (aRude Website), Spin, Esquire, Details, Entrevue (France), Zoo (UK), Louchelink.com, Werk #5 (an anthology of contemporary art including artists such as Nobuyoshi Araki), Latina, Tally Ho, Stereotype, Bunnie: issues 1 & 2 (UK), Clam (France), Premiere, Talk, Raygun, Paper, Manhattan File, Voidek, Gotham, E Design, The Washington Post, The London Sun (UK), The News-of-the-World (UK), Fabulous (UK); and the following books: The Graphis Photo Annual 2000, “American Photography” annual: Volumes 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, and 24 (2008 edition)” (D.A.P. pub.); “Fetish Dreams” (Edition Skylight, Switzerland, 2008), “The New Erotic Photography” (Taschen Books, 2007; and the revised edition 2009), “Masterminds of Mode: International Fashion Festival in Japan” (2000); “Nerve: The New Nude” (Chronicle Books); “Nerve: The First Ten Years,” (Chronicle Books, 2008), “Real
Vixens” (Edition Skylight, Switzerland, 2009), “The Mammoth Book of Erotic Photography” (2010 edition), “The Covers Record” by Cat Power (Matador), and the “Joe Sent Me Remix” album by Vanessa Daou (Daou Records).
7 Questions a interview with George Pitts
Erographic: When did you become interested in photography?
George Pitts: I learned to print, process negatives, and take pictures as a teenager in private school in Arizona. It was in the early 1990s that I returned to Photography, after devoting most of my adult years to painting, drawing, and writing.
Erographic: Do you have your own studio or are you working on location?
George Pitts: I work mostly on location, sometimes in the studio. I don't own my own studio, and I think my photographs benefit from the flux of working in locations of all kinds, which links the work to how filmmakers create scenes in a variety of settings.
Erographic: Do you have assistance or are you working alone?
George Pitts: I tend to work alone when doing my personal work, but not exclusively; and at times with hair and makeup artists, stylists, or eccentric creatives. I always work with an assistant on Editorial shoots, and certain projects that require travel, limited time, or when mentoring younger photographers.
Erographic: Was it easy to find models when you started photographing nudes?
George Pitts: It happened casually in a community of artists where subjects surfaced through hanging out, or through referrals. Later, I endeavored to ask certain women if they would permit me to photograph them. After a time, my work was more visible in different spheres, and now I work steadily with a variety of individuals who come from all walks of life.
Erographic: What do you prefer: digital or analog?
George Pitts: I shoot analog, but I haven't arrived at a preference yet; but my intuitive knowledge and physical practice with the tools are deeply rooted in analog. I have issues with certain facets of the post-production entailed in shooting digitally. Yet I find it fascinating that the post-production ritual entails so many of the skills that are rooted in the art of painting, which remains the central influence on my Photography. Along with cinema.
Erographic: Do you have other artist(s) who you admire and inspire you?
George Pitts: I like specific art works, and certain artists, mostly those who disdain easy sentimentality, including musicians, film directors, actors, writers, and photographers; such as: Scott Walker, Manet, Roxy Music, Lady Hawarden, Fassbinder, Vermeer, Cindy Sherman, Balthus, Billie Holiday, Hans Bellmer, Diane Arbus, Jacques Rivette, Isabel Sarli (the Argentine Sex goddess), Guy Bourdin, Beatrice Dalle (the unnerving actress), Vanessa Redgrave, Helmut Newton, Catherine Breillat (the most pitiless and insightful director of women's perversity and sense of desire), Russ Meyer, John Singer Sargent, Tilda Swinton, Cy Twombly.
And, all the various subjects I shoot make me want to do the most eloquent job I can as an artist.
Erographic: What is number one on your wishlist?
George Pitts: To create enduring photographs; publish numerous books; to stay healthy, vital, attentive, and loving.
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Website: www.georgepitts.com
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