Jock Sturges | Trunk Archive

Jock Sturges

Few photographers, if any, have so uniquely shaped the ideal of nude and beach, of freedom and youthful abandonment, of the unity of nature and female beauty, to the extent of Jock Sturges. Since the 1970s he has been taking photographs of families and their children over a number of years along the shores of California and, in particular, Montavilet on the coast of France. He photographed them during summer holidays, year after year, capturing many of the children as they grew from childhood, through adolescence, to adulthood. Many of his beach scenes were taken in the gentle afternoon and evening sun, with long shadows stretched over the sand, and one senses an atmosphere of departure from the lightness of summer. His paradise is captured in a moment that appears to last forever.

Despite the presence of his large format camera Sturges is somehow able to create a unique atmosphere of intimacy that allows the subjects to behave in ways disarmingly confident and carefree. Though searching for timeless grace, natural elegance, and classic beauty, Sturges also shows a respect and sensitivity towards the air of transience.

Before Sturges completed his studies in photography at the San Francisco Art Institute he had previously studied Perceptual Psychology. In interviews, he stresses the defining influence this combination had on him. Unlike some of his contemporaries, he does not emphasise eroticism or sensuality, but rather natural beauty. A concept he has remained true to for decades.

Christina Wendenburg

TRUNK ARCHIVE

TRUNK ARCHIVE is a boutique agency based in New York City that represents the archives of the world's leading fashion, celebrity, still life and landscape photographers. Every artist on their roster is acknowledged as being among the very best in his / her genre. To highlight the impressive diversity of images available at TRUNK ARCHIVE we have selected a group of amazing artists to feature in this launch collection.

The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), New York, USA
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
The International Center of Photography (ICP), New York, USA
The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, USA
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, USA
The Seattle Museum of Art, USA
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, USA
Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany
Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt, Germany
The Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France

Solo Exhibitions

2013	Jock Sturges, Moravska Galerie, Brno, Czech Republic
2012	Jock Sturges, Espace Soardi, Nizza, France
2010	Jock Sturges, A Gallery for Fine Photography, New Orleans, USA
	Photographs 1985-2009, Galerie Johannes Faber, Vienna, Austria
2009	Colour Prints, Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2008	Jock Sturges – Large-format color photographs from his new book, Bernarducci Meisel Gallery, New York, USA
	Jock Sturges, Benham Gallery, Seattle, USA
2007	New Color Works, Christophe Guye Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland
	Jock Sturges, Galerie Acte 2, Paris, France
2006	Jock Sturges - Large Prints - Louis K. Meisel Gallery, New York, USA

Group Exhibitions

2012	c’est la vie – Das ganze Leben, Deutsches Hygiene Museum, Dresden, Germany
2011	Becoming Muses, The Center for Photography at Woodstock, USA
2010	Another Nude Show, Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica, USA
2009	Creating Identity - Portraits Today, 21c Museum, Louisville, USA
	Summertime, Galerie Acte 2, Paris, France
2008	Unforeseen Reflections, Bernarducci Meisel Gallery, New York, USA
	Presumed Innocence - Photographic Perspectives of Children, DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln, USA
2007	Structure, Bernarducci Meisel Gallery, New York, USA
2006	The age of innocent, Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery, Dallas, USA
	My Collection, Museo Ken Damy, Brescia, Italy