Steve Weiss

About

Reality is far weirder than surrealism ever dreamed. My photographs are most successful when the emotional content gets through. There's irony, transcendent beauty and even humor out there, something I find sorely missing in most contemporary photography. Pretty alone just doesn't cut it. It's too easy and it's a one-note instrument. My photography heroes are Bernard Plossu, André Kertész, Don Worth and Imogen Cunningham COLLECTIONS Salt River Project Arizona State University, Northlight Gallery, permanent collection Scottsdale Healthcare Quarles Brady Streich Lang O'Conner Cavanaugh Anderson Westover Killingsworth and Beshears Gallagher and Kennedy Private Collections COMMISSIONS 2013 “Keyhole” collaborative video installation for designer Janis Leonard, AZ88 2011 “Under The Sea” video installation for Janis Leonard, SMoCA Lounge, SMoCA 2011 “From Desert to Dessert” short film, directed and produced for Mighty Brave Productions (Canada) 2009 “Picturing Maricopa” Virginia Piper Trust 2006 AZ State Film Office (stock photography & assignment Arizona scenic locations) 1999 Gallagher and Kennedy (Commissioned sports themed art photography) 1998 Del Webb Corporation (Commissioned photography of national properties) AWARDS 2001 Phoenix Art Museum Contemporary Forum Artist Materials Grant SELECTED EXHIBITIONS Solo & 2 Person shows 2017 “It’s All About Us”Leslie Barton & Steve Weiss-Paintings, Photography, Video-Found:Re Hotel 2012 “56 of 100: Candid Landscapes and the Arizona Centennial”, The Hive, Phoenix, AZ 2008 “Lost Vegas: 1985-2007” The Lodge Studio, Phoenix, AZ 2005"Li'l Room, Li'l Pictures" Polaroid photography, eyelounge Project Room, Phoenix 2004 "Life is Big", Modified Arts, Phoenix, AZ 1996 "For Amusement Only; Photographs of the Arizona State and Maricopa County Fairs", Burton Barr Library 1993 "Reality Check" Armstrong Prior Fine Arts, 1990 "Truth and Beauty" Szabo Studio, Phoenix, AZ 1985 "Views of Encanto" Arizona State Capitol and the Encanto Park Clubhouse, Phoenix, AZ 1978 "Dedicated to Women" Northlight Gallery, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Group Shows 2001 "Nooks and Crannies" Nelson Fine Art Center, ASU-“Elevators Are Rarely Lonely” 1997 "La Phoeniquera XVII", 1990 "La Phoeniquera X", Juror’s Award, MARS Gallery, Phoenix, AZ 1990 "In the Garden" Desert Botanical Garden Benefit, Security Pacific Bank, Phoenix, AZ 1989 "Selections from a Collection, 19th and 20th Century Landscape and Portraiture" Northlight Gallery, ASU 1976 "Photography Biennial", Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ 1974 Firebird Festival of the Arts, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ POSITIONS 2002-present-Co-founder and Executive Director No Festival Required Independent Cinema 1986-1990-Resident Photographer, Artist-in-Residence Program, Phoenix Visual Arts Center PUBLICATIONS Little Pictures: Spectra Polaroids by Steve Weiss, 2013 New Times, 1st Annual Photo Contest, 1st and 2nd prize, black and white, 1985 l'Almanach de la photo '82 published by Contrejour; Paris, France (included in the chapter, "Photographers in Love".)