Shadow Portraits
Susan kae Grant’s Shadow Portraits transcend time, age and fashion while harkening back to the history of photography. Her unique style of portraiture is reminiscent of traditional silhouette likenesses of the late 18th century yet captures an evocative romanticism that emanates a contemporary ambiance. The formal execution can be traced back stylistically to her fascination of using shadows as a metaphor in the Night Journey project.

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Grant’s Shadow Portraits originated as a collection of images created for Conduit Gallery’s 20th anniversary collaborative exhibition and subsequent artists’ book Shadowed Memory. This series marks the beginning of Grant accepting private portrait commissions in her Dallas studio.

For each portrait, Grant creates a custom-built backdrop of shadows assembled from an assortment of found objects and fabrics. The objects and fabrics are specifically chosen to evoke the quintessential personality--the essence--of the person portrayed.

Grant’s portraits of Niki and David (below) were published in TIME (October 2014) and on TIME | Lightbox as part of a special series. In the feature, How the Past Shapes Modern Photography, “Deborah Willis, chair of photography and imaging at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, explores the way modern photographers such as Susan kae Grant use themes of memory and history.” (Time 2014, p8)

The images in the Shadow Portrait series are printed as 20”x25” archival inkjet prints on Hahnemüle 308 Rag paper. Each print has a hand-torn white border with a de-bossed signature stamp on front and labeled and hand-signed en verso.

Schedule Shadow Portrait Session
Contact the artist directly
Susan kae Grant, Dallas, Texas
susan@susankaegrant.com