Kelli Connell's photographs delve into relationships, encounters, and their complex dynamics. Spanning across two exhibitions at the Elmhurst Art Museum in Chicago, Connell's expansive body of work will be showcased for the first time in the largest-ever display of her work in the city.
The traveling exhibition "Living with Modernism: Kelli Connell" co-organized by the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona, Cleveland Museum of Art and High Museum of Art in Atlanta, offers a thought-provoking look into Connell's photographic journey. The show includes 45 large-scale images from her well-known series "Pictures of Charis," which was inspired by Edward Weston's iconic photographs.
Connell had initially discovered Weston's work as a student but was intrigued when she came across one of his photographs taken in California, featuring a woman known only as "Nude." Research led her to discover that the mystery woman was Charis Wilson, an aspiring writer and muse who supplied text for Weston's famous 1940 photography book.
The new series of images showcases Connell's contemporary re-interpretations and responses filtered through her research on Wilson. The large-scale photographs will line the walls of the Elmhurst gallery, creating a visual connection between Connell's work and Weston's vintage prints displayed in flat vitrines.
Concurrently, "Double Life," a series featuring eight fresh images commissioned by the Elmhurst Museum, continues Connell's exploration of identity and truth in photography. The latest images were taken in Mies van der Rohe's 1952 McCormick House, an iconic modernist single-family home that now forms part of the museum's campus.
Connell's body of work offers a glimpse into her nuanced portrayal of relationships and personal encounters, inviting viewers to reflect on the complexities of human interaction.
The traveling exhibition "Living with Modernism: Kelli Connell" co-organized by the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona, Cleveland Museum of Art and High Museum of Art in Atlanta, offers a thought-provoking look into Connell's photographic journey. The show includes 45 large-scale images from her well-known series "Pictures of Charis," which was inspired by Edward Weston's iconic photographs.
Connell had initially discovered Weston's work as a student but was intrigued when she came across one of his photographs taken in California, featuring a woman known only as "Nude." Research led her to discover that the mystery woman was Charis Wilson, an aspiring writer and muse who supplied text for Weston's famous 1940 photography book.
The new series of images showcases Connell's contemporary re-interpretations and responses filtered through her research on Wilson. The large-scale photographs will line the walls of the Elmhurst gallery, creating a visual connection between Connell's work and Weston's vintage prints displayed in flat vitrines.
Concurrently, "Double Life," a series featuring eight fresh images commissioned by the Elmhurst Museum, continues Connell's exploration of identity and truth in photography. The latest images were taken in Mies van der Rohe's 1952 McCormick House, an iconic modernist single-family home that now forms part of the museum's campus.
Connell's body of work offers a glimpse into her nuanced portrayal of relationships and personal encounters, inviting viewers to reflect on the complexities of human interaction.
It's like we're constantly trying to fill a void left behind by their vision. And Kelli Connell, she's doing her part to keep that conversation going... but isn't this just another example of how art reflects our own desires for connection and understanding? I mean, when we're drawn to someone's work, are we really looking at the person themselves or just a representation of what we want to be? It's like we're trying to fill a gap in ourselves through their creations... doesn't that say something about where we're at as a society? 
just saw this news about Kelli Connell's photography exhibition at Elmhurst Art Museum in Chicago 
and I'm totally blown away! Her work is like a thread that weaves together relationships, encounters, and personal dynamics 
it's so thought-provoking! What I love about her "Pictures of Charis" series is how she re-interprets Edward Weston's work through her own lens 
they're stunning! The way she explores identity and truth in photography is so relatable, especially when it comes to personal relationships. I think what's amazing about Kelli Connell's work is that it invites viewers to reflect on our own complex human interactions 
.
Kelli Connell's pics are literally SO thought-provoking! I love how she delves into these complex relationships & interactions - it's like you can just vibe with her work, you know? 
And the fact that she's re-interpreting Edward Weston's old pics, but with a modern twist, is just genius 
. Like, who wouldn't want to see "Nude" from Charis Wilson in a new light? 
I'm also super stoked about her latest series "Double Life", which explores identity & truth - it sounds so deep and relatable! 
BUT SERIOUSLY, IT SOUNDS LIKE CONNELL IS TAKING A REALLY DEEP LOOK AT IDENTITY AND RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH HER WORK. IT COULD BE SO FASCINATING TO SEE HOW SHE RE-INTERPRETS WESTON'S VINTAGE PHOTOS WITH A MODERN TWIST! AND I LOVE THAT THE EXHIBITION IS ALSO SHOWCASING SOME OF HER NEW WORK TAKEN AT THIS ICONIC MODERNIST HOME IN CHICAGO. IT SOUNDS LIKE CONNELL IS TRULY PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND I CAN'T WAIT TO CHECK OUT THIS EXHIBITION! 
. It's like Connell is taking us on this journey of relationships and human interaction, and that's just, like, totally fascinating 
Kelli Connell's photograhps are literally so deep, she's like, re-creating these old pics and making them fresh again 
. She delves into these super complex relationships and makes them look effortless, like sipping coffee at a quaint café 
. Charis Wilson's story is wild, btw – it's like she was the original muse-ista 
. Anyway, I'm low-key hyped to check out these exhibitions in Chicago! The pics are gonna be fire 
. And the fact that she's explorin' identity and truth through her lens is just so relatable, you know? 
It's like she's havin' a convo with us through her art 
. Can't wait to see this exhibition in person and get all up close and personal with these stunning pics 
. And the fact that she's re-creating Weston's work while putting her own spin on it is just genius 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to explore the complexities of human interaction through photography? It's so beautiful and thought-provoking... I'm literally crying thinking about how much this exhibition means to me 
. And can we talk about how cool it is that she got to work in Mies van der Rohe's iconic house 
I love how she re-interprets Edward Weston's style with her own contemporary twist. The way she delves into relationships and encounters is really captivating, and it makes you think about the complexities of human interaction. The fact that she's showcasing both her "Pictures of Charis" series and new work inspired by Charis Wilson's story is genius 
! I mean, she's totally inspired by Edward Weston's work, but also putting her own spin on things with her "Pictures of Charis" series... it's like, really deep and stuff. I love how she's researching this one woman, Charis Wilson, who was basically a muse for Weston, and then re-creating these images that are all about relationships and identity... it's like, so thought-provoking 
... and that connection between her work and Edward Weston's is wild 