KATERINA CHRISTINA - Taking the Art World by Storm
Excerpts from a conversation with Katerina Christina by Debbie Dickinson
“What year did you start photographing?”
I first picked up a camera in 2018 during my last year as a mechanical engineering student at Stanford. After so many years of hardcore engineering classes, I was craving both a mental break and a creative outlet. I decided to enroll in an Introduction to Photography class, where our final assignment was to creative a cohesive body of work presented in the format of a small magazine. This was the first time I had ever seriously considered elements of composition and their ability to either attract us to an image, or to leave us wanting more. I found that there were certain images I could look at time after time and still find them interesting on some level, or even find something new about them. I took mental notes on the kinds of compositions that continued to intrigue me over time and did my best to repeat that pattern yet still incorporate an element of experimentation.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love fashion, and especially shoes. I also love standing out, both in terms of my style and my height—although I’m 6’ you’ll often see me wearing booties or heels just because! I wanted my first photographic series to incorporate both elements of my personality as well as serve as a daily journal to help me document these small moments of intrigue—to remind myself of the little joys in life despite all of the stress I was under at the time. Drawing from these sources of influence, I photographed the same pair of shoes on at different locations, from the perspective of the wearer (me!)—from the parking lot at school to the lecture halls, to the beach on a weekend. At the end of 2018, I planned a solo trip to Europe for a month as a graduation present to myself, and that was really the first time I started thinking about street photography. Some of my favorite images to this day are photographs from that trip in places such as Rome, Paris, Monaco, and London—I love looking back at them to see where my mind was at that time, as well as how far I’ve come. It wasn’t until the spring of 2019 though that I really understood street photography and made a commitment to dedicate myself to it as an art form.
“What schools helped you develop your Art industry career?”
See above. Sorry, I don’t have a ton to say on this since I did not study art. I’m sure my graduate education in architecture at Columbia GSAPP will influence my art, but it’s hard to say how since I haven’t started school yet.
“Who was most instrumental that mentored or influenced your career and why?”
In the spring of 2019, I took a black and white photography class with Alan Schaller in San Francisco (where I was living at the time), which completely changed how I approached street photography. Because I am self-taught, I had very little direction up to that point—I had an idea of the kind of photographs I wanted to make based on other photographers’ images that inspired me, but I didn’t quite know how to manipulate my camera or the world around me to produce those images. Alan taught us not only the technical details of making photographs with a Leica and post-processing the images in a way that produces elegant art, but more importantly he showed us the nuances of being a creative in the busy streets—how to take advantage of natural light and intriguing shadows, the patience required before and anticipation of the moment, and how to cultivate an ability to turn a seemingly mundane scene into a beautiful, intriguing work of art that you can continues to elicit emotion regardless of how many times you’ve stared at it.
“Tell us about notable awards and achievements from your career and life studies?”
Art awards and achievements below. Apart from these, the other achievements that I am most proud of our academic—getting accepted to Stanford University, graduating with a B.S. Mechanical Engineering, and being accepted to the Master of Architecture program at Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation where I will begin studying in the fall.
“What was the year that you began to start the art photography business and what outlet / exhibition?”
I made my first few sales in late 2019 and early 2020 (through my website and IG connections mainly), so I haven’t been selling for very long; however, I’m very happy about how my art has been received in this short period of time. I also started selling on Saatchi in early 2020 and on Chairish in mid-2021. With respect to the relatively short amount of time I have dedicated myself to art—just 2 or 3 years—I’m happy with how my practice has grown and am very excited to continue to produce new work, both photographs and drawings.
“Tell us about your favorite key subjects that you have photographed and why they interest you?”
The majority of my street photography work falls into the ‘Quiet Moments in the Chaos’ series—this body of work is all about extracting and capturing a serene moment happening in the presence of a chaotic city in the background. A prime example of this is “A Moment of Peace” shot in Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where you see a young boy letting go and completely surrendering to nature as he lets the incoming waves crash over his body. I see this as an incredibly peaceful moment, where nothing else matters and there is a willingness to let oneself be enveloped by the emotions of the moment and to put the stresses of daily life aside.
This series was born when I first started making photographs—at the time, street photography was a reprieve from the stress of my mechanical engineering studies. It was a way for me to enter a state of mind that was really a letting go of everything on my mind, and an absorption of the small yet beautiful moments in life that we often miss when we don’t take the time to slow down. One of my other favorite subjects to photograph are kids, as you can see in my series ‘Youthhood.’ I truly believe we have a lot to learn from children! Their sense of wonder and lack of inhibitions are something to be admired—these sentiments and ways of approaching the world are what I capture with my images in this series. I hope both the subjects and the images can inspire viewers and collectors to live life a little more carefree and with a little more appreciation of the beauty that surrounds us.
Finally, the last key subject I find myself photographing often is myself! During the first few weeks of lockdown in March of 2020, I found myself suddenly without my usual subjects to photograph as no one was out on the streets, and of course it wasn’t safe to be out and about either. So, I decided to make use of the extra time we all found ourselves with—that along with my love of fashion. I am a huge hat lover, so I thought what better chance to slow down, do some introspection, and make art in a way I had never explored. Unlike the years before that when I was either in school or traveling around the world and things were in a frenzy, I had the time plan out photoshoots—to draw inspiration from some of the greats, especially in the fashion world, to reflect on the feelings of confinement and isolation I was feeling, and to experiment. This was a whole new world for me because in street photography, you are essentially making art out of something that already exists, but in my studio work, I was creating something out of nothing. It was absolutely a challenge at first, but after a couple of hours of playing around with hats, outfits, and movement, I found it to be an absolute joy. Studio work went from something challenging to something where I felt I had the ultimate sense of creative freedom, especially in my case doing self-portraiture. I find the process to be so liberating because it’s just me—no direction from anyone else, no judgment, and nothing to lose trying something new.
“What is it about your business that motivates you?”
As detailed above, my business is my passion and what helps me decompress from the stresses of daily life and from my studies (now that will be architecture instead of mechanical engineering). I find myself especially motivated in my street photography when I am able to capture a moment of joy, bliss, or liberation that inspires viewers and collectors to slow down and see the beauty in the world around them. It is of course a huge honor when someone loves my work enough to invest in a piece for their home or collection—that is absolutely a motivating factor for me, and is always great feedback when I know what kind of works collectors want in their homes. I’m also motivated personally—this is especially true in my studio photography—I get to explore my creative side without bounds. As for my drawings, I am motivated to explore the human form, emotions within and between humans, and to convey my take on such emotions.
“What exotic places have you traveled to capture your images?”
Nairobi, Kenya
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Oaxaca, Mexico
Paris, France
Rome, Italy
Cyprus
London, England
“What are two favorite success stories in your business?”
Not sure I have them yet? Perhaps exhibiting at the Hamptons Fine Art Fair (assuming that happens) as that would really elevate my work to a whole new world of buyers and also solidify to me that my work is at the caliber at which I want it to be.
“Give us your most memorable quote from a buyer?”
My first ever collector purchased ‘Love [Nairobi, Kenya]’ and told me they were “mesmerized by the emotion [I] managed to capture” and were “looking for photos that convey love that we could frame and hang in our home. This photo of yours speaks to both of us very much.” As the first investment into my art practice, hearing this from a complete stranger halfway around the world really meant a lot to me.
“What’s a memorable quote from a collector or gallery owner?”
Etheleen Staley - Staley Wise Gallery. I think her work is great! I especially love the Elephants (Love- Nairobi, Kenya),The Hat (A Study of Contours #1) and The Dog (Bliss – Carmel-by-the-Sea).
“What are some quotes and principles that have had major significance in your life?”
“To me, photography is an art of observation, it’s about finding something interesting in an
ordinary place. I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the
way you see them.”
— Elliott Erwitt
This Elliott Erwitt quote really hits home for me—not only because of the degree to which I find his work intriguing, but also because that is exactly why I began making photographs: to find something striking in a seemingly mundane place. Photography truly has changed the way I see the world—the way light unveils the details of a subject, how shadows hide parts of a scene to lend a sense of mystery, or the way light and shadow play with each other to create beauty that can only be seen if you know how and where to look for it. Photography has also showed me that to capture a fleeting glance, gesture of the hands, or closing of the eyes, is so much more significant than we realize as ordinary passersby on the street.
More personally, the most influential principles and ways of thinking come from my father—an immigrant from Cyprus, he has now been in the US for nearly 40 years and has started multiple companies that are his own. His philosophy has always been that the only limits in life are the ones that you place on yourself—he has always encouraged me to go after my dreams, regardless of how feasible they may seem in the moment. Where there is a will, there truly is a way. Anytime things seem to be taking a difficult turn, he will always remind me why the glass is half full and of everything I have overcome to get to where I am—and that is a huge source of inspiration for me.
“What are sayings that have become your hallmark?”
“Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible.” (I believe this quote has been
attributed to Albert Einstein and a few others...not sure who said it originally). Anyone who knows me knows that I have no shame in trying or attempting things that are unconventional—I mean, just look at the size of my hats and the height of my heels (I’m 6’ without heels)! I absolutely love this saying, and it fully captures how I live my life—both in thought and in action.
“Do you attend any specific industry trade shows or competitions?”
I listed online competitions above where my work was selected to exhibit or for another award. I exhibited in a solo booth at The Other Art Fair: Brooklyn and at the Hamptons Fine Art Fair with Saphira and Ventura Gallery, recently. I would also love to get more tuned into the NYC art scene so that I can participate in additional fairs here.
“Who have you mentored?”
Honestly, other than answering questions when photographers just starting out send me a DM on Instagram, I haven’t had any opportunities to mentor anyone as I am so new to the art world. If given the chance, I would love to be able to do so.
“What charities do you work with?”
I haven’t yet partnered with any, but I met one of the founders of 2B Scene (https://2bscene.org/) which is a nonprofit that promotes diversity and inclusion in the film and television industry in New York. We talked about me donating one of my pieces for a charity auction later this fall.
For More info on Katerina Christina / www.katerinachristina.com