Contemporary Art Matters is pleased to present Case studies, a solo exhibition of compelling new work by photographer Jared Thorne. In this series, Thorne turns his lens toward the personal bookcase, recasting a familiar household feature into a revealing portrait of identity. The exhibition will be on view at the gallery’s 243 N. 5th Street, Columbus, OH, location from November 6 through December 18, 2025, with an opening reception on Thursday, November 13, from 5–7 PM.

Jared Thorne is celebrated for creating conceptually engaging work that reflects upon themes of social class, identity and race. In Case studies, he approaches these subjects through an examination of the personal bookcase, revealing glimpses into an individual's inner world and the external persona they choose to project. In the exhibition’s nine large-scale photographs, bookcases appear as intimate studies, their shelves lined with unexpected pairings of beloved novels, canonical works, and instructional texts, set alongside snapshots, heirlooms, and keepsakes. Each configuration conveys a distinctive sensibility, offering clues to the life and outlook of the person who assembled it. Part of the photos’ allure lies in their detective-like quality, hinted at by the show’s title, Case studies, which evokes both careful analysis and the unraveling of a mystery.

In Book case 1, multiple volumes with simple titles—Cacti, Trees, Birds, and Cats—are stacked horizontally on top of the case. Surrounding them are natural specimens: the trophy mount of an antelope, the shell of an enormous horseshoe crab, and a taxidermied peacock. Is this the library of a natural scientist or an outdoor enthusiast, or—as closer inspection may suggest—a display assembled to project such an identity? The question remains whether we are seeing a library shaped organically by the owner’s interests or a carefully curated display designed to influence how that individual is perceived. In a world where social media accounts are strategically crafted to promote a desired image, the bookcases in Thorne's photos feel like their analog predecessor. Of his work, Thorne writes, “The bookshelf becomes both mirror and performance: a reflection of private preoccupations and a public declaration of taste.”