2022 FotoFocus Biennial Artist Mary Mattingly was named as a 2023 Guggenheim Fellow and plans to use this opportunity for a project, Shoal, that will utilize waterways common law as a workaround for public land laws. This will increase the accessibility of public food in New York City by continuing to change foraging and growing policy on public land. FotoFocus welcomed Mattingly to Cincinnati in April 2022 for the Telephotography Symposium and pieces from her project Pull were part of the 2022 FotoFocus Curated Exhibition, On The Line.

Continue reading Mary Mattingly Named 2023 Guggenheim Fellow

2022 FotoFocus Biennial Artist Baseera Khan recently won MTV's reality competition The Exhibit: Finding the Next Great Artist. Khan competed against six other artists for the chance to win a cash prize and a solo exhibition at the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. FotoFocus reached out to Khan to learn more about their experience on the show.

Anyone living in the 21st-century is likely familiar with the cultural phenomenon that is reality television competition. From MTV originals like The Real World and the plethora... Continue reading 2022 FotoFocus Biennial Artist Baseera Khan Wins MTV Reality Competition

Last week, three artists from the exhibition “Past as Present: Capturing and Archiving the Female Experience” headlined its opening reception. The event offered the pleasures one would expect from a FotoFocus-affiliated production: astonishing art, tasty refreshments, and a lively panel discussion featuring the artists themselves. But there was one twist. The event didn’t occur at the Contemporary Arts Center or a similar venue. Instead, it took place in the heart of the University of Cincinnati’s Clifton campus, at the DAAP Reed Gallery. FotoFocus has cultivated a rich relationship with higher education, even if that relationship sometimes gets overlooked. “Consistently, since the first Biennial in 2012,”... Continue reading FotoFocus Goes to College, or: Building Engagement with Photography by Collaborating With Higher Ed

There are more than 90—count 'em, more than 90—FotoFocus projects at museums and galleries across the region this Biennial. We know, it can be daunting. Sot here at The Lens, we want to help you navigate the shows scattered around town. Today, we’re talking about what’s happening in central and eastern parts of the Cincinnati region. Without further ado, here are three itineraries to choose from on the East/Central Neighborhood Spotlight Day, Saturday, October 27. All you need is an open mind, some time and an appetite for art. 1. Embed in Methods These days, we all have a powerful camera in our hands. Smart phones do the... Continue reading East/Central Neighborhood Spotlight: Three Itineraries for Oct. 27

It's Final Friday—on steroids! Chances are you've been to the Over-the-Rhine art walk by now, held the last Friday of each month...hence the name. (And if not, keep reading, this is a great opportunity to start.)  Galleries and shops along and adjacent to Main Street throw open their doors to neighbors, newbies, and visitors who nosh, drink, conversate, and, of course, admire art. It’s a genuinely good time. But get ready, because Final Friday is super charged in September and October—boosted by the energy and presence of FotoFocus. And, really, the FotoFocus cup runneth over in Over-the-Rhine, providing opportunities well beyond Final Friday. For instance: all... Continue reading FotoFocus Super-Charges Final Friday