BIO | amydavisphotography

Amy Davis

Artist and Educator

My artistic practice centers on an exploration of identity in the age of social media, using photography, video, and multimedia installations as my primary mediums. I am fascinated by how the camera and social media enable us to invent and project idealized versions of ourselves to an ever-widening audience, constructing self-curated narratives that have been a part of photography's history since its inception.

My previous works have focused on the ways in which we construct and curate our identities online. By examining the voyeuristic nature of social media and the desire to be seen and to see others, I have sought to expose the complexities of this new form of self-expression in a digital world.

My latest project, "Inference," is an interactive installation that delves deeper into our fascination with peeking into the lives of others and the impressions we form of their personal identities based on their photographic images. The installation features 6x6 foot photo mosaics, which are composed of the entirety of a subject's images and text messages stored on their phone. The viewer can zoom into each image or read each text message, creating a modern-day equivalent of peeking through a person's diary. This project encourages reflection on the ways in which we form judgments and make assumptions based on the visual information we consume online.

My current photo and video project, "Assimilation," is a deeply personal investigation into the dual nature of identity, particularly as experienced by immigrants who have relocated to the United States. Through my relationship with my husband, I have been inspired to explore the complex struggles that immigrants face as they shift their cultural identities to adopt the American lifestyle, while also grappling with the guilt of creating new traditions that blend aspects of their native cultures with those of their adopted homeland. My aim is to use the power of photography and video to shed light on the shifting landscapes of cultural identity and tradition in contemporary society, with a particular focus on immigrants who have married outside of their own culture. By exploring these themes, I hope to ignite a broader conversation about the complexities of identity and cultural assimilation in the modern world.

Exhibitions & Festivals

Artist

2023

"Fantasy in Reality," Group Exhibition, Midwest Center for Photography, Wichita, KS (November 2023) Participated in a series of works exploring the intersection of fantastical elements within everyday scenes.
"The Family," Group Exhibition, Millepiani Gallery, Rome, Italy (September 2023) Contributed to a cross-cultural dialogue on the concept of family through contemporary photography.
"Blue," Group Exhibition, Midwest Center for Photography, Wichita, KS (June 2023) Exhibited a collection of photographs that delve into the thematic and emotional nuances of the color blue.
"HOMECOMING: Society for Photographic Education’s Combined Caucus Exhibition," Denver, CO (March 2023) Displayed work in a prestigious national exhibition focusing on innovative photographic education practices.

2022

Society for Photographic Education’s 10th Annual Combined Caucus Exhibition (June 2022) Showcased alongside esteemed educators, merging the didactic with the aesthetic in photographic arts.
"The Ephemeral and the Evanescence," Group Exhibition, Millepiani Gallery, Rome, Italy (July 2022) Explored transient moments through lens-based media, highlighting the fleeting beauty of the mundane.

2021

"Restructuring," Group Exhibition, Flint, MI (May 2021) Interrogated social and architectural structures through a local lens, fostering community engagement.

2020

"Screens," Group Exhibition, Flint, MI (February 2020) Examined the digital interfacing of modern life through a series of thought-provoking photographic pieces.

2018:

"Popscapes," Solo Show, Eagle Monk Gallery - A personal exhibition blending pop culture imagery with landscape photography.
"Emerging Artist," East Lansing Art Festival - Featured in a segment spotlighting new and influential voices in the regional art scene.

2016:

"The Cat Show," PH21 Gallery (May) - Celebrated the whimsicality of cats through creative photography.
"Group Session," Bushwick Open Studios (June) - Part of a dynamic collective of artists opening their studio spaces to the public.

2014:

"Spring and Rebirth," Maison de Santé Saint-Paul (October) - An exhibit reflecting on themes of renewal and nature's cycles.
SVA MFA Photo & Related Media Thesis Show, SVA Gallery, New York, NY (June) - A culmination of graduate work, exhibiting a series on [insert your theme here].
"Presence," SVA Gallery, New York, NY (Opens May 28th) - Explored the notion of presence within the absence in contemporary photography.
PDN 2014 Photo Annual Award Recipient - Honored for outstanding photographic work among peers and industry leaders.
"Salon Show," Greenpoint Gallery, Brooklyn, NY - Participated in a traditional salon-style exhibition, engaging with a diverse audience.

2013:

"Curate NYC," Gallery Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY - Selected to exhibit in a city-wide showcase spotlighting New York City's vibrant art scene.
"Come Together: Surviving Sandy, Year 1," Industry City, Brooklyn, NY - Contributed to a reflective exhibit on the resilience post-Hurricane Sandy. [Link provided]
"Interior Motives," SVA Gallery, New York, NY - An intimate examination of interior spaces and the stories they tell.
"The Artist Catalogue," Volume 2 Issue 2 - Featured artist in a publication celebrating emerging voices in contemporary art.
"Street Shots/NYC," Seaport Museum, New York, NY - A street photography installation capturing the essence of New York City life.

2012:

"Benefit Auction," NURTUREart, Brooklyn, NY - Contributed to a charity auction supporting arts education and emerging artists.
"Souls," SVA Gallery, New York, NY - A solo photographic exhibition delving into the concept of the soul through portraiture.

Curator

2018

"Fantastic Impossibilities: A Remix of Dysfunction," Flint’s Artwalk Curated a mixed-media show critiquing American pop culture and the complexities of identity representation.

PUBLICATIONS