Photo by Jacob Drabik

The Lens

The Lens is the FotoFocus editorial platform, highlighting our programming and featuring in-depth conversations on photography and the moving image drawn from perspectives and insights in our community, throughout our region, and around the globe.


Viewing Category: 2024 Biennial: backstories
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2024: Our Year in Review

Posted on December 13, 2024

From watching construction progress on the FotoFocus Center, to hosting the Visiting Lecture and Artist Series, fostering new community partnerships, implementing the 2024 Biennial, and installing a mural, this year has been nothing short of exciting. We're excited to share a photo gallery from the Biennial. Stay tuned for 2025 as we look forward to welcoming visitors to the FotoFocus Center.

Below we recap 5 things that shaped our 2024.

Construction... Continue reading 2024: Our Year in Review

2024 Biennial Opening Program Video Gallery

Posted on November 14, 2024

The 2024 FotoFocus Biennial: backstories included 107 projects at 86 Participating Venues across Greater Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Northern Kentucky—the largest of its kind in America. These projects featured international, national, and regional artists and curators, focusing on stories that are not evident at first glance—offering context for what happened previously or out of view, providing narratives not yet told or presented from a new perspective.

The Biennial Opening Weekend Program featured a keynote lecture, talks and panel discussions with artists, curators, and collaborators, designed to inspire conversations about the world through photography, film,... Continue reading 2024 Biennial Opening Program Video Gallery


2024 Biennial Artist and Curator Interview Series

Posted on October 30, 2024

For the 2024 FotoFocus Biennial, we teamed up with local videographers to produce a series of Artist and Curator Interviews. The majority of these videos were first premiered at the August 22nd Biennial Preview and Passport Launch at the OTR Stillhouse. Cindependent Film Festival helped us to create a fun cinematic experience for guests with their Reels on Wheels mobile cinema. We, then, shared shorter edits of each interview on social media throughout the month of October. Check out each of the full-length interview videos below:

Continue reading 2024 Biennial Artist and Curator Interview Series

Dayton Spotlight Weekend (10/25–10/27)

Posted on October 23, 2024

As part of the 2024 Biennial, FotoFocus features Participating Venues in Spotlight Weekends: Opportunities to visit multiple Venues within specific geographic locations where artists and curators are more likely to be on site for talks, tours, special events, and featured programming. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant energy of the FotoFocus Biennial and map out a plan to get to as many Venues as possible.

Featured here: Dayton; Friday, October 25 – Sunday, October 27, 2024

Continue reading Dayton Spotlight Weekend (10/25–10/27)

FotoFocus Unveils Public Mural by Chip Thomas as part of the 2024 Biennial

Posted on October 22, 2024

The photographer, street artist, activist, and physician’s latest work pays homage to fellow muralist William Rankins, Jr.

FotoFocus is pleased to unveil a newly commissioned portrait mural of artist William Rankins, Jr., by activist, physician, and artist Chip Thomas at the locally beloved restaurant Ollie’s Trolley in the West End near Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati. Presented as part of the 2024 FotoFocus Biennial: backstories, the mural is an extension of Thomas’ exhibition, Chip Thomas and the Painted Desert Project, which opened September 6,... Continue reading FotoFocus Unveils Public Mural by Chip Thomas as part of the 2024 Biennial