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                     Naomi Olson is an American born, multi-disciplinary artist with a rich film and photography heritage. She studied experimental film with Stephanie Barber , cinematography with masters Vilmos Zsigmond and Yuri Neyman at Global Cinematography Institute. Her photography mentors were David Ulrich, author of 'Zen Camera' and Paul Chesley of National Geographic.

 

Her poetic, ethereal work revolves around digital & film photography often including experimental techniques, long exposures and superimposed images. She has been featured in Club Monaco, published in editorials, exhibited internationally and was recognized by the Honolulu Museum of Art for her documentary project 'Seeing Through the Heart: Portraits of the Blind in Hawaii'

"My photography is a practice of resilience, triumph of the soul and testament to the human spirit. I grew up in Wisconsin with a bar on every corner and alcoholism woven into the fiber of social culture. Like many, my early life was riddled with the resulting abuse, dysfunction and depression that ensues. Making art has been a solace and way out of the confines of my conditioning. 

 

I have overcome teenage substance abuse, sold everything (including camera gear) to survive, lived with debilitating chronic illness, defied death thanks to emergency surgery and an ostomy bag. These challenges are gifts that inspire creativity, forcing me to dig deep within and search for meaning. Yoga, Tibetan Buddhism, Biodynamic Craniosacral therapy, plus international travel have been integral to my journey. My own healing ,learning and growth informs my images and the practice of making photos in turn fuels my passion for life. 

 

Currently I live between the US and Mexico, enjoying life by the sea and photographing the rapidly changing environment around me."

The photographic image can be more than just a memory or pretty picture that hangs on the wall. Photos speak, like Diane Arbus’s “Child with a toy hand grenade”, Minor White’s “Frosted Window” or James Nachtwey’s “Famine”

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Impressions of these images settle in my bones and stay with my being for lifetimes. Telling stories visually to communicate ideas, raise awareness, give the unheard a voice, the unnoticed a face and make the unseen visible is the reason I continue to photograph. What excites me most is the powerful reflective quality to make us feel. Somehow connecting us to each other, the natural world, worlds beyond and our deepest inner states of what it means to be human.

I use monochrome for its talent to draw the eye, strength to penetrate the heart, and simple way of expressing the duality of existence. My color images deepen into complex psychology and subtle layers of emotion, with the idea that there is always the possibility for something greater in each moment. Techniques like shooting at night, using long or multiple exposures, create a different sense of time, adding mystery and an element of the spiritual. Within spaces where the unknown rules, intuition becomes the trusted guide.

What is it like to see without eyes? How can I see the infinite? What is the language of light?

My current work is driven by questions, the search for knowledge and hope for humanity. Heavily influenced by contemplative practice and inner work. I use the lens as a tool to reflect or reveal what is hidden in the subconscious and shine light on the human spirit, natural intelligence and the beauty of this world. With a clear mind, I discover new or uncommon understanding, and the notion that the impossible is possible.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2013 BIJA @ Art & Yoga Studio, Nice, FRANCE 2011 SEEING THROUGH THE HEART: PORTRAITS OF THE BLIND IN HAWAII @ Arts at Marks Garage, Honolulu, HI 2010 LIMITLESS @ Town, Honolulu, HI 2010 BIJA @ Open Space Gallery, Honolulu, HI 2009 LAND SEA MOON @ South Street Gallery, Honolulu, HI 2008. NIGHTTIME LANDSCAPES @ 12th Avenue Grill and Gallery, Honolulu, HI.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2024 CASA HUANACAXTLE @ La Cruz, Nayarit, Mexico 2023 BIBLIOTECA LOS MANGOS @ Festival de las lettras. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 2023 AMSTERDAM BLOOMS @ Inscribing Amsterdam Event, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2023 COLLECTIVA DE FOTOGRAFIA @ Soph Art Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico 2023 DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH @ Picture This Art, Online Gallery 2023 YOUR TOP TEN @ Bryony Shearmur, Online Gallery 2023 PARIS WALL PROJECT @ Obscura Dao for Art Crush, Paris , France 2023 INF COLLECTIVE SHOWCASE @ Block Down Festival, Algarve, Portugal 2023 SIMBIOSIS @ Studio Gerardo Noriega, Bucerias, Mexico 2023 ARTIST VILLAGE @ NYC NFT, New York, NY 2022 WXX3 MAKERSPLACE SHOWCASE @ NFT Paris, Paris, France 2022 WINTER @ Art East Online Gallery 2022 WATER @ Art East Online Gallery 2015 SIGHTLINES & SEEING WITH PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTIVE @ The Cell Theater, New York, NY 2011 ARTISTS OF HAWAII BIENNIAL @ Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu, HI 2010  CATHEDRAL ARTS FESTIVAL @ Grace Van Vorst, Jersey City, NJ 2010  STARLIGHT BALL @ Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu, HI 2010  PUNAHOU CARNIVAL @ Punahou Carnival Gallery, Honolulu, HI 2009  CATHEDRAL ARTS FESTIVAL @ Grace Van Vorst, Jersey City, NJ 2009  PUNAHOU CARNIVAL @ Punahou Carnival Gallery, Honolulu, HI 2008  MIXED MEDIA MINIATURES @ Koa Gallery, Honolulu, HI 2008 SEE THE WORLD IN BLACK AND WHITE FEATURED ARTIST @ Club Monaco, Honolulu, HI 2008  DARKNESS @ Koa Gallery, Honolulu, HI (juried photography) 2008  ECO – LOGIC @ Art at Marks Garage, Honolulu, HI 2008  VISION AND DISCOVERY @ Canon Gallery, Honolulu, HI 2007  PHOTO PLUS EXPO @ Jacob Javits, New York, NY

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2012 – current PHOTOGRAPHER Freelance commercial, editorial and fine art 2007 – 2011 PRINT LAB FACILITATOR & TEACHING ASSISTANT at PACIFIC NEW MEDIA 2005 – 2011 ASSISTANT CAMERAMAN - FILM & COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION clients such as Johnson&Johnson, Armani, Kashi, Shiseido, Sapporo, CDW, Bank of Hawaii, L’Oreal... 2009 – 2010 PHOTO EDITOR for PAUL CHESLEY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC COLLECTION 2008 - 2008 CURATOR for ASIA PACIFIC SECURITY CENTER PERMANENT COLLECTION 2005 – 2008 CAMERA RENTAL MANAGER for OTTO NEMENZ at HAWAII MEDIA 2002 – 2005 CREATIVE DIRECTOR and DESIGNER for TOPS MALIBU 2001 – 2002 PROPS ARTIST for THE BERKELEY REPERATORY THEATRE and AURORA THEATRE 2000 – 2000 SET DECORATOR/SET CONSTRUCTION FEATURE FILM 1998 – 1999 PROPS ARTIST at THE CHILDRENS THEATRE 1997 – 1998 EXHIBIT TECHNICIAN at DISCOVERY WORLD MUSEUM 1994 – 1997 WOODWORKING APPRENTICE at FILLINGHAM FURNITURE 1996 – 1996 TEACHER UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MILWAUKEE CRAFT CENTER

EDUCATION 2023 MAKERSPLACE NFT ARTIST LAUNCHPAD PROGRAM, Online 2013 – 2014 GLOBAL CINEMATOGRAPHY INSTITUTE, Los Angeles, CA 2004 – 2007 PACIFIC NEW MEDIA at UNIVERSITY of HAWAII MANOA, OUTREACH COLLEGE, Honolulu, HI 1998 –1998 MILWAUKEE INSTITUTE OF ART & DESIGN, Milwaukee, WI  1995 - 1997 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MILWAUKEE, audited courses in 16mm filmmaking & animation, Milwaukee, WI

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