Driven by a deep understanding of natural complexities and a fierce curiosity about expanding the limits of photo-possibility, photographer and artist Robert Buelteman masterfully crafts poignant images of life, color, and transcendence. View the exhibition online. View a digital catalog online.
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Jackson, WY, August 22, 2024 — Shari Brownfield Fine Art is thrilled to present a forty-year retrospective exhibition by Robert Buelteman, a visionary artist renowned for his innovative approach to photography. The exhibition, opening September 6th, 2024, will bring together two of Buelteman’s distinct bodies of work— his celebrated camera-less color prints, and his exquisite black-and-white analog landscapes.
Buelteman grew up with a profound appreciation for nature in the then sleepy Woodside, California. Originally on a path to become a professional pilot, Buelteman’s life took a transformative turn when a chance encounter with a camera led him to abandon aviation in favor of photography. After attending San Francisco State and the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied the hard sciences behind the medium of photography, Buelteman began his artistic journey providing photographic services to architects and interior designers. Eventually, his love for the simplicity of black-and-white landscape photography led him to begin a 10-year project photographing the San Francisco State Fish and Game Refuge, a place off-limits to the public since 1920. This early work set the stage for his deep commitment to land conservation and photographic excellence, and, over his career, his art has helped to preserve and conserve over 150,000 acres of land.
In 2000, Buelteman’s artistic vision took a radical shift as he abandoned traditional imaging tools in favor of a camera-less technique that drew nearer to Chinese brush painting and improvisational jazz than it did standard photographic practice. This innovative approach has earned him numerous accolades and a place in prominent public and private collections worldwide. Then ensued his journey into color, where he transitioned from a decades-long career in black-and-white to an energetic exploration of a fresh, vibrant technique. His first solo exhibition featuring these botanical images not only sold out, but also marked a new era for the artist.
In celebration of his 70th birthday, Buelteman’s retrospective will be a comprehensive showcase of his artistic evolution, highlighting his quest for light and shadow across both mediums. This exhibition will offer visitors a chance to experience the unified vision behind his work, presenting it as a cohesive journey rather than as two separate entities.
The exhibition will open with a reception on Friday, September 6th, from 5-7 PM, during the Fall Arts Festival signature event Palettes & Palates and with Buelteman in attendance. A free public artist talk will follow on September 7th at 2 PM, offering insight to his creative process and artistic evolution.