The Lens

FotoFocus is happy to share the region's venues seeking artist submissions for their individual exhibitions. Each Venue listed has determined the specifics for their open call and is fully in charge of the selection process. FotoFocus will not influence or participate in the selection process for these exhibitions. 

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Robin Imaging Services & The Mohawk GalleryOpen Call: closed February 10, 2020Lens-based artists are invited to submit work that responds to Light, Time, and The Ever-Changing Perspective, exhibiting how photographers... Continue reading CALL TO ARTISTS: Region’s Venues Seek Artist Submissions

On April 28th FotoFocus announced that in lieu of presenting the fifth FotoFocus Biennial, originally slated for October 2020, it pledged its Biennial budget to financially support the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton and Columbus, Ohio art communities during the coronavirus pandemic.

FotoFocus gave an emergency art grant in the amount of $800,000 to over 100 Participating Venues and Partners that were selected to present as part of the 2020 FotoFocus Biennial.

The next FotoFocus Biennial will take place in October 2022 with a new theme. The Program Week is scheduled for Friday, October 1 –... Continue reading Exploring Light and Its Contrasts

The 2018 Biennial theme Open Archive sparks a multitude of thoughts and inspiration. Behind each curated show, featured photograph, and careful performance lie layers of narrative and woven experience, charged with texture and intertextuality. Which is why exploring the material behind this year’s exhibitions only adds to the intrigue—and the richness of the conversation.

Modular and multifaceted, the two-volume catalog No Two Alike: Karl Blossfeldt, Francis Bruguière, Thomas Ruff invites audiences to compare the three aforementioned artists in an open, flexible format. It juxtaposes the work of one of the most celebrated contemporary artists, the German photographer Thomas Ruff (b. 1958), with two important photographers... Continue reading The Biennial in Book Form: Three Volumes to Add to Your Shelves

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