A wide range of environments and character types are explored in the works of New York City-based Dean West. The Australian-born (1983) artist who studied at the Queensland College of Art, is best known for his intricate and highly staged photographs that take everyday occurrences beyond the realm of natural reality. Extraordinary in their tonal range, digital clarity, and artistic vision, West’s meticulously choreographed scenes, character studies, and atmospheric landscapes powerfully yet synthetically link needs to desires and documentation to invention. Passionately dedicated to the vast possibilities of digital photography as both a medium and a cultural epoch, West’s narratives draw inspiration from the total diversity offered by the visual arts. While the tableau photography of Stan Douglas and Jeff Wall inform West’s understanding of photography as a form of contemporary communication, the paintings of David Hockney and Edward Hopper provide evident aesthetic direction. The fictional world of cinema and the functional language of advertising have also clearly left their mark and taught lessons of their own. International brands have embraced West’s vision through partnerships and important clients such as Disney, MTV, Bombay Sapphire, and Fox Sports. Recognized as one of Saatchi & Saatchi’s “Top 100 Emerging Photographers” in 2008, West has also been honored with “Advertising Photographer of the Year” at the International Loupe Awards (2008) and the prestigious “Arte Laguna Prize” in Venice, Italy (2009). International art curators have taken notice of the accomplished skill West applies to both his digital photography technique and the complex, cerebral narratives offered in his images. His works have been exhibited at important institutions around the world including the Columbus Museum of Art (2012), Faneuli Hall Museum of Boston (2015), the Paris Expo Porte De Versailles (2015), Puls 5 Gallery in Zürich, and the Discovery Times Square Museum in New York City (2014). Hailed as one of the most promising artists of his generation and identified as one of the most accomplished practitioners of digital image making as an art form, West has been honored by acquisitions of his work by some of the most prestigious collections of contemporary art, including that of Sir Elton John. SOLO EXHIBITIONS2017 Лучшее из West Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art, St Petersburg, Russia 2016 2015 - 2020 Alison Milne Gallery, Toronto, Canada 2016 In Pieces Cupula Gallery, Barcelona, Spain 2015 In Pieces Puls 5 Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland 2015 In Pieces Franklin Institute Museum, Philadelphia, PA, USA 2015 In Pieces Fotografica de Colombia Biennial, Bogota, Colombia 2015 In Pieces Paris Expo Gallery, Porte de Versailles, Paris, France 2015 In Pieces Old Truman Brewery, London United Kingdom 2015 In Pieces Faneuil Hall Museum Boston, Boston, MA, USA 2014 In Pieces Anchorage Museum of Art, Anchorage, AK, USA 2014 In Pieces Art & Culture Center, Hollywood, FL, USA 2014 In Pieces Discovery Centre Times Square, New York, NY, USA 2013 In Pieces Turtle Bay Exploration Park, Redding, CA USA 2013 In Pieces Open house Gallery, New York, NY, USA 2012 In Pieces Clinton Presidential Centre, Little Rock, AR, USA 2012 In Pieces The Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH, USA 2010 Fabricate Fornace di Asolo, Treviso, Italy 2010 Fabricate One800 Gallery, Toronto, Canada SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS2019 Phytology Photography Alison Milne Gallery, Toronto, Canada 2018 SCOPE Miami Beach Miami, FL USA 2018 Art Market Hamptons New York, NY USA 2018 Texas Contemporary Houston, Texas 2017 The Other Art Fair Brooklyn, NY USA 2017 Art Market Hamptons New York, NY USA 2017 SCOPE New York New York, NY USA 2016 Art Market Hamptons The Bridgehampton Museum, NY USA 2016 Art Southampton Southampton, NY USA 2016 Hamptons Contemporary Southampton, NY USA 2016 Affordable Art Fair New York, NY USA 2015 SCOPE New York New York, NY USA 2014 SCOPE Miami Beach Miami, FL USA 2014 SNAP Orlando CU1 Gallery, Miami, FL USA 2014 Dallas Art Fair Dallas, TX USA 2014 Faux Sho Islip Art Museum, Long Island, NY USA 2013 Staging & Revelation Galeria de Arte AFK, Lisbon, Portugal 2013 Stage of Mind Opiom Gallery, Opio, France 2013 Art on the Edge Vered Contemporary, East Hampton, NY USA 2012 Photo Reload Romberg Art Contemporana, Latina, Italy 2012 Worldwide Biennial WGPA Palais de Glace, Buenos Aires, Argentina 2011 Flash Forward Magenta Foundation The Distillery, Toronto, Canada 2010 Arte Laguna Prize Le Tese di san Cristoforo, Venice, Italy 2010 Northern Lights Atelier 688, Toronto, Canada 2008 Top 100 Emerging Photographers Saatchi & Saatchi, Cannes, France 2006 Saving Daylight Queensland College of Art, Brisbane, Australia AWARDSWinner of IV International Arte Laguna PrizeFotografica, 'Fabricate' Venice, Italy 2010200 Best Ad Photographers 19/20Luerzer's Archive, Global 2019Advertising Photographer of the YearInternational Aperture Awards, Australia 2010Illustrative Photographer of the YearInternational Loupe Awards, Australia 2011Lens Culture Emerging Talents 2018Lens Culture Inc, Netherlands Winner in the 11th Annual MastersInternational Color Awards, London 2018IPA Awards 2018Lucie Foundation, Fine Art Pro, 3rd PlacePollux Award Worldwide Photography GalaDirectors Special Mention, Fabricate 2011Official Selection Prix De La Photographie ParisParis, France 2011Applied Arts Magazine Winner, Canada 2012‘In Pieces’Emerging Photographer of CanadaFlash Forward, Magenta Foundation, CA 2011Applied Arts Magazine Winner, Canada 2011‘Fabricate’ IPA Awards 2011Lucie Foundation 2nd Place, Fine Art Pro, USATop 100 Emerging PhotographersSaatchi & Saatchi, Cannes, France 2008Blue Diamond Photo AwardBlue Diamond, Croatia 2013Visual Artist of the Year 2010Africa Photographic Awards, Johannesburg, SAAdvertising Photographer of the YearInternational Aperture Awards, USA 2008IPA - Honourable MentionLucie Foundation, USA, 2009Winner in the 4th Annual Masters CupInternational Colour Awards, London, UKApplied Arts Winner, Canada 2010‘Fabricate’Applied Arts Winner, Canada 2010‘Every Dink Counts’ QLD GovernmentAustralia’s Top Photographer NomineeCreative MagazineAIPP Australian Pro Photographer Awards 2011Creative Photographer of the Year Runner UpEmerging Talent Jury WinnerMorpholio Eyetime 2013, USA