We are pleased to present Greg Lotus' first photographic exhibition at the Robin Rice Gallery. The opening reception will be held Wednesday, September 18th, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.
Inside the gallery, the viewer is surrounded by an arresting display of glamour in the wild. Drawing inspiration from classical paintings and geometric forms, Greg Lotus' work has been compared to Herb Ritts, Man Ray and Richard Avedon, and his exhibition fuses his high fashion background with the rural environment of his youth. Yet Lotus admits to no formal training throughout his career, "I'm completely self-taught, lots of trial and error over the years."
His foray into fashion photography was a twist of fate. In the 90s he was sharing living quarters with young models, and began photographing them to help them build their portfolios—work that eventually brought his work to the attention of agencies. When it comes to his own models, Lotus prefers the "unspoiled" types, holding castings to find those with quirk as well as beauty.
"Over time, most artists develop their own palette and look using color and light in a very personal way. I express my own aesthetic sense which is what makes my work recognizable, regardless of subject or setting." "Swimmer Cap," is an example of Lotus' signature pop of color. Here, a cast of sinewy models convene in a locker room; their candy-colored swim caps give the piece its surreal, dreamlike quality.
In the invitation piece, "Nurses" beauties in black bathing suits pop against a light background while being hosed down by a nurse. "You can almost feel the spray and hear the whoosh under the miniskirt," says Lotus. Besides the visual play on light and dark, he says water is the linking element that turns the piece theatrical and makes it breathe.
Greg Lotus was born in 1967 in rural West Virginia. He shot in Paris and New York City before settling in Miami to pursue his craft. After landing his first major job in Europe, Lotus interviewed with the editor of Italian Vogue, Franca Sozzani, which led to a 10-page assignment and the launch of his burgeoning career in fashion and advertising photography. Appearing regularly in the pages of Italian Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ, and W, Lotus is inarguably one of publishing's most in-demand talents. Over his 20+ years in the business, he's shot dozens of celebrities ranging from Penelope Cruz to Mary J. Blige. His advertising roster is equally impressive, which includes campaigns for L'Oréal, Escada, Swarovski and Cartier.
Lotus is currently focused on his fine art photography and recently exhibited at Art Basel in Miami Beach. Today he splits his time between Manhattan, Paris and Miami, travelling frequently on assignment to Europe.