Paulette Tavormina Explained

Paulette Tavormina (born 1949 in Rockville Centre, New York) is an American fine-art photographer who lives and works in Connecticut and New York City. Tavormina is best known for her series, Natura Morta, which features photographic imagery inspired by 17th century Dutch, Spanish and Italian Old Master still life painters.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Career

Tavormina's interest in photography grew out of a 1980's request by a New York public relations firm to photograph a visiting celebrity.[5] She then took an introductory class at the International Center of Photography in New York. After moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico, Tavormina took a class in black and white photography and darkroom technique, and became a commercial photographer, specializing in historical Indian pottery and Navajo jewelry. She also worked as a food stylist, collaborating on six cookbooks, including The Coyote Café Cookbook and The Red Sage Cookbook. She adapted her food styling experience to become a prop and food specialist for Hollywood films including The Astronaut's Wife,[6] where part of her work involved creating elaborate food scenes. While in Santa Fe, Tavormina became fascinated by the work of Sarah McCarty,[7] a Santa Fe-based still life painter and was introduced to the works of 17th century Old Master still-life painters Giovanna Garzoni and Maria Sibylla Merian.

Early in her career, Tavormina spent six years working at Sotheby's auction house in New York, surrounded by fine art. Returning to New York in the mid-2000s, after a period learning Italian and finding her ancestral roots in Sicily, Tavormina joined Sotheby's again, photographing works of art for their auction catalogues. Tavormina began experimenting and creating photographic images reminiscent of the still life art of Dutch, Italian and Spanish painters of the 17th century, including Francesco de Zurbarán, Giovanna Garzoni, Maria Sibylla Merian, and Willem Claesz Heda. By 2009, Tavormina had developed the lighting and composition style that forms the backbone of her Natura Morta series, and the work was shown publicly for the first time in 2009 at Sotheby's. Her first gallery show was the Still Seen group exhibition[8] at Robert Klein Gallery in Boston in the fall of 2009. Tavormina's work has since been part of many solo and group exhibitions.

In addition to her fine-art photography, Tavormina has a successful career as a commercial photographer, including the "Alchemist's Garden" fragrance campaign for Gucci, and Goop's "edition 01" perfume. She has photographed recipes for the Del Posto Cookbook, The 1802 Beekman Heirloom Cookbook[9] and The 1802 Beekman Heirloom Dessert Cookbook and other commercial publications such as Sotheby's at Auction,[10] Martha Stewart Weddings,[11] The New York Times,[12] and National Geographic magazine.[13]

Monograph

A monograph entitled Paulette Tavormina: Seizing Beauty was published in 2016 by The Monacelli Press.[14] This 160-page volume incorporates plates of Tavormina's major works from the period 2008 to 2015 as well as essays by the art and photography scholars Silvia Malaguzzi, Mark Alice Durant and Anke Van Wagenberg-Ter Hoeven.[15] [16]

Awards and grants

In August 2016, Tavormina was selected by the Pollock-Krasner Foundation as a 2016 recipient of a Pollock-Krasner grant.

In November 2010, Tavormina was awarded[17] [18] the Grand Prix of the Festival International de la Photographie Culinaire, a juried photography competition held annually in Paris, France.

Solo museum exhibitions

Solo gallery exhibitions

Selected group exhibitions

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Smee . Sebastian . 24 November 2010 . The Magic of Objects . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006160000/http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2010/11/24/paulette_tavormina_discusses_her_still_life_photographs_and_their_connection_to_paintings/ . 6 October 2014 . The Boston Globe.
  2. Web site: Dean . Sam . 18 March 2013 . Paulette Tavormina's Still-Life Photos of Food, Dutch Master Style . live . https://archive.today/20240206235323/https://www.bonappetit.com/people/article/paulette-tavormina-s-still-life-photos-of-food-dutch-master-style . 6 February 2024 . 6 February 2024 . . en-US.
  3. Web site: Samadzadeh . Nozlee . 4 March 2013 . Natura Morta . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220630011851/https://themorningnews.org/gallery/natura-morta . 30 June 2022 . 6 February 2024 . The Morning News.
  4. News: Tavormina . Paulette . July–August 2012 . Natura Morta . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130307175019/http://phototechmag.com/natura-morta/ . 7 March 2013 . Photo Technique Magazine.
  5. Digital Photo Russia, (in Russian), February 2012
  6. Web site: Paulette Tavormina Additional Crew . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170216131322/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1050610/ . 16 February 2017 . 6 February 2024 . . en-US.
  7. Web site: Argos Etchings and Paintings Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Eli Levin, Jo Basiste, Paul Steiner, Thayer Carter, Whitman Johnson, Zara Kriegstein, Cheryl Lorance, Phyllis Sloane, Jack Sinclair, Santa Fe Etching Club . 2024-02-07 . argos-gallery.com.
  8. Robert Klein Gallery Announcement
  9. Web site: The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook by Josh Kilmer-Purcell, Brent Ridge, Sandy Gluck . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231031084032/https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4027-8709-6 . 31 October 2023 . 6 February 2024 . Publishers Weekly.
  10. Sotheby's at Auction, January 2013 issue
  11. Martha Stewart Weddings: Special Travel Issue, October 2012,
  12. News: Gordinier . Jeff . 22 April 2014 . Against the Grain . live . https://archive.today/20141108072350/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/23/dining/against-the-grain.html?_r=0 . 8 November 2014 . 6 February 2024 . The New York Times.
  13. Web site: 8 November 2014 . A Moveable Feast . registration . live . https://archive.today/20240207010540/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/a-moveable-feast . 7 February 2024 . 6 February 2024 . . en.
  14. Book: Malaguzzi, Silvia . Paulette Tavormina: Seizing Beauty . Durant . Mark Alice . van Wagenberg-ter Hoeven . Anke A. . . 2016 . 9781580934565 . New York . en . 946011634.
  15. News: Gassmann . Gay . 20 April 2016 . Vivid Images That Aren’t Old Masters — but Look Just Like Them . subscription . live . https://archive.today/20240207011701/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/20/t-magazine/art/photographs-old-master-still-lifes-book.html . 7 February 2024 . 6 February 2024 . The New York Times.
  16. Hughes . Holly Stuart . May 2016 . Lush Life . live . . 36 . 5 . 20 . 1543-0294 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230922180729/https://potd.pdnonline.com/2016/05/27/38799/ . 22 September 2023 . 7 February 2024.
  17. Web site: 26 November 2010 . Le meilleur de la photo culinaire 2010 . The best of food photography 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231031084032/http://www.lexpress.fr/styles/diapo-photo/styles/saveurs/le-meilleur-de-la-photo-culinaire-2010_940220.html?p=6#content_diapo . 31 October 2023 . 6 February 2024 . . fr.
  18. Web site: 28 November 2010 . Arts de la table. Beau et bon à la fois . Table Arts. Beautiful and good at the same time . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171112142245/http://www.republicain-lorrain.fr/actualite/2010/11/28/beau-et-bon-a-la-fois . 12 November 2017 . 6 February 2024 . . FR-fr.
  19. Web site: 2016 . Seizing Beauty Photographs by Paulette Tavormina . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160919074836/http://sniteartmuseum.nd.edu/exhibitions/current-exhibitions/seizing-beauty-photographs-by-paulette-tavormina/ . 19 September 2016 . Snite Museum of Art.
  20. Web site: 23 February 2015 . Academy Art Museum Tavormina Photography Exhibition Recalls 17th Century Masters . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160919074658/http://www.academyartmuseum.org/press/022316.html . 19 September 2016 . Academy Art Museum.
  21. Web site: 2023 . Paulette Tavormina - Fiori del Giardino . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030143321/https://newyork.winstonwachter.com/exhibitions/paulette-tavormina-fiori-del-giardino/ . 30 October 2023 . 6 February 2024 . Winston Wächter Fine Art.
  22. Web site: 2023 . Paulette Tavormina Fiore del Giardino . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030143312/https://www.gilmancontemporary.com/exhibitions/37-paulette-tavormina-fiore-del-giardino/ . 30 October 2023 . 30 October 2023 . Gilman Contemporary . en.
  23. Web site: 2021 . Paulette Tavormina - Seizing Beauty . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231031085452/https://www.gilmancontemporary.com/exhibitions/13-paulette-tavormina-seizing-beauty/ . 31 October 2023 . 30 October 2023 . Gilman Contemporary . en.
  24. Web site: 2018 . Paulette Tavormina: A Concert of Birds . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030143501/http://www.robertmann.com/18-paulette-tavormina-press-release . 30 October 2023 . 8 June 2021 . Robert Mann Gallery .
  25. Web site: Seizing Beauty 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210608235236/https://www.colnaghi.com/exhibition.php?ide=32 . 8 June 2021 . 8 June 2021 . Colnaghi.
  26. Web site: 2017 . Seizing Beauty . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609000628/http://seizingbeauty.colnaghi.com/#seizing-beauty . 9 June 2021 . 6 July 2017 . Colnaghi.
  27. News: 19 May 2015 . Paulette Tavormina: Life, Death and the Old Masters . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211117000454/https://wsimag.com/art/15565-paulette-tavormina-life-death-and-the-old-masters . 17 November 2021 . 6 February 2024 . Wall Street International Magazine.
  28. Web site: Savitskaya . Anna . 15 June 2015 . 'I want to remind that this beauty is all around us' - interview with Paulette Tavormina . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240207020508/https://artdependence.com/articles/i-want-to-remind-that-this-beauty-is-all-around-us-interview-with-paulette-tavormina . 7 February 2024 . 6 February 2024 . Art Dependence . en.
  29. Web site: Sim . David . 14 May 2015 . Paulette Tavormina's sumptuous photos inspired by 17th Century Old Masters go on show in London . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240207020709/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/paulette-tavorminas-sumptuous-photos-inspired-by-17th-century-old-masters-go-show-london-1501326 . 7 February 2024 . 6 February 2024 . . en.
  30. Web site: 2015 . Paulette Tavormina - Bodegón . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030143501/http://www.robertmann.com/2015-tavormina-press/ . 30 October 2023 . 1 December 2023 . Robert Mann Gallery . en-US.
  31. Web site: Artist - Paulette Tavormina . live . https://archive.today/20240207204140/https://marchsf.com/collections/paulette-tavormina . 7 February 2024 . 7 February 2024 . MARCH . en.
  32. Web site: 8 January 2014 . Paulette Tavormina Returns to Boston with Black & Bloom at Robert Klein Gallery and Ars Libri . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160919152822/http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs156/1101527907963/archive/1116191311721.html . 19 September 2016 . Robert Klein Gallery.
  33. Silver . Joanne . May 2014 . Paulette Tavormina . . 113 . 5 . 106–107.
  34. Web site: 7 February 2014 . Paulette Tavormina’s Secretive Still Lifes . live . https://archive.today/20240128000743/https://www.artsy.net/article/editorial-paulette-tavorminas-secretive-still-lifes . 28 January 2024 . 7 February 2024 . . en.
  35. Web site: 1 March 2013 . Paulette Tavormina . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093115/http://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/art/paulette-tavormina . 4 March 2016 . 7 February 2024 . . en.
  36. News: Fabricant . Florence . 15 January 2013 . Dining Calendar . limited . live . https://archive.today/20231013025543/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/16/dining/dining-calendar-exhibit-of-stylized-food-photography-and-more.html . 13 October 2023 . 7 February 2024 . The New York Times.
  37. Web site: Paulette Tavormina . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140410134519/http://www.photography-now.com/artist/details/paulette-tavormina . 10 April 2014 . 7 February 2024 . Photography-Now.com.
  38. Web site: November–December 2010 . Upcoming Exhibition: Paulette Tavormina - Natura Morta . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230643/http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs057/1101527907963/archive/1103842214457.html . 3 March 2016 . Robert Klein Gallery.
  39. Web site: 2022 . Everyday Objects: The Enduring Appeal of Still Life . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130000438/https://boiseartmuseum.org/exhibition/everyday-objects/ . 30 November 2023 . 30 October 2023 . Boise Art Museum.
  40. Web site: 31 October 2019 . Undying Traditions: Memento Mori . live . https://archive.today/20240207222136/https://narmassociation.org/undying-traditions-memento-mori/ . 7 February 2024 . 9 June 2021 . Muskegon Museum of Art.
  41. Web site: What is The Garzoni Challenge? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220417214304/http://advancingwomenartists.org/news/special-events/the-garzoni-challenge . 17 April 2022 . 9 June 2021 . . Medici Archive Project.
  42. Web site: 2019 . Garden Party . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030143456/http://www.catherinecouturier.com/exhibitions/previous-exhibitions/garden-party/ . 30 October 2023 . 8 June 2021 . Catherine Couturier Gallery.
  43. Web site: 2019 . Sleep with the Fishes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211117000250/http://www.robertmann.com/19-sleep-with-the-fishes-press-release . 17 November 2021 . 8 June 2021 . Robert Mann Gallery.
  44. Web site: 2017 . Birds of a Feather . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211117000259/http://www.robertmann.com/birds-of-a-feather-press . 17 November 2021 . 8 June 2021 . Robert Mann Gallery.
  45. Web site: 2016 . Still Life -- The Pleasure of Stopping Time . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118071906/https://www.holdenluntz.com/magazine/exhibitions/still-life-the-pleasure-of-stopping-time/ . 18 January 2024 . 7 February 2024 . Holden Luntz.
  46. Web site: 2015 . MoP A–Z Listings - Redline - Artists . deviated . https://web.archive.org/web/20160114070326/http://www.mopdenver.com/a-to-z-gallery-listings/ . 14 January 2016 . Month of Photography Denver.
  47. Web site: 19 March 2015 . MoP Denver 2015 . subscription . 7 February 2024 . The Eye of Photography Magazine . en-US.
  48. Web site: 2014 . Paulette Tavormina . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150321024955/http://www.stephaniehoppen.com/artist-new.php?artistid=141 . 21 March 2015 . Stephanie Hoppen Gallery.
  49. Chris Beetles Fine PhotographsGallery Web Site
  50. Web site: Steward . Sue . 25 July 2014 . Fragile, Chris Beetles - exhibition review . live . https://archive.today/20130718043801/http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/exhibitions/fragile-chris-beetles--exhibition-review-8661371.html?origin=internalSearch . 18 July 2013 . 7 February 2024 . . en.
  51. Web site: Rohrer . Denis . 2014 . An Artist’s Delight . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230329010306/https://www.alimentarium.org/en/story/artists-delight . 29 March 2023 . Alimentarium . en.
  52. Alimentarium Museum Catalogue
  53. Web site: 2011 . The Photographers 2011: Paulette Tavormina . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150708192503/http://www.beetlesandhuxley.com/exhibitions/photographers-2011/artists/paulette-tavormina-born-1949.html . 8 July 2015 . Beetles+Huxley Gallery.
  54. Web site: 2011 . Exhibition: Natura Morta . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200225182106/https://photography-now.com/exhibition/77208 . 25 February 2020 . 7 February 2024 . Photography-Now.com.
  55. Web site: 2011 . Still Life: Revisited . dead . https://archive.today/20130704013342/http://everson.org/exhibitions/past.php?id=613 . 4 July 2013 . Everson Museum of Art.
  56. News: Fabricant . Florence . 29 March 2011 . An Exhibit Focuses on Food Loved by the Camera . subscription . live . https://archive.today/20240208000403/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/dining/30art.html . 8 February 2024 . 7 February 2024 . The New York Times.
  57. Web site: 2010 . Naturae Mortae - Master photographers of the 20th. Century . dead . https://archive.today/20130630033159/http://www.photographicafineart.com/sito/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=135:nuova-esposizione&catid=39:esposizioni-passate&Itemid=34&lang=en . 30 June 2013 . Photographica Fine Art.
  58. Web site: Through a Painter's Lens . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305170920/http://www.holdenluntz.com/exhibitions/through-painters-lens . 5 March 2016 . Holden Luntz Gallery.