Artist Tamara Rafkin

Tamara Rafkin

About

Born: 1970 USA
Lives and works in Belgium.

Rafkin transforms images of abandoned spaces by focusing on the minute details of the scene before her and isolating these abstract elements from their surroundings. Acting as a mediator between the existing urbanization and the sublimation of these forgotten landscapes is achieved not only by means of the lens but also by a particular photographic process, which vividly enhance naturally occurring color in her subjects. These vibrant shots of vacant warehouses, playgrounds, public sculptures, and urban sprawl loom over the viewer, monuments to what is and what was.

Through her photographs Rafkin explores the notion of twilight as an integral part of the regenerative urban cycle. She presents these places with a modernist optimism, without the contemporary angst that has become so popular in urban photography. The artist sees these places as parables of our existence, filled with the evidence of lives lived and lost hope. It is in these places that she seeks a moment of perfect stillness, where she leans in close to the subject and steals the moment from the scene.-Tim McAdoo … Read More

Location: Aalst, Belgium
Website: http://www.tamararafkin.com

Work

Selected Exhibition History

Museum Exhibitions

2010
"Visual Arts Center of New Jersey 24th International Juried Exhibition" Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. Curator: Susan Kismaric, MOMA NY. Summit N.J.

2009
“Truc Troc” BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts Brussels. Brussels Belgium.

2008
“Aalst Salon 2008” De Werf and Belfort Crypte. Aalst Belgium.

2002
“Fish Out of Water/Architecture Against Blue Skies, Works by Joe Chirchillo and Tamara Rafkin”. The Brooklyn Center for Urban Environments. Prospect Park, Brooklyn N.Y.

1999
“Requiem: Living Artists Eulogize a Dying Century” Curators: Taboo. Nexus Contemporary Art Center. Atlanta Ga.

1996
“Post-Olympia, or How We Spent The Summer of 1996” Curator: Lisa Tuttle. The 1996 Arts Festival of Atlanta-Bathhouse Exhibition. Atlanta Ga.

1995
“Landscape, Memory, and Identity: Still More Stories from the World We Live In” Curator: Jerry Cullum. The 1995 Arts Festival of Atlanta- King Plow Arts Center Exhibition. Atlanta Ga.

1994
"Electric Blanket : AIDS Projection Project” High Museum of Art. Atlanta Ga.

1990
“La Grange National XV” Curator: Kathleen McCarthy Gauss. Lamar Dobb Art Center La Grange College. LaGrange Ga.

Solo Exhibitions

2005
“Ninty9 to 2thousand5” Soho Studios. New York N.Y.

1995
“Tamara Rafkin” The Lowe Gallery. Atlanta Ga.

Group Exhibitions

2010
“Photographs by Michael Chia,Luc Dratwa and Tamara Rafkin” US Department of State European Media Center , US Embassy. Brussels Belgium.
“ARTist@WORK” ArtyParty met De Werf Cultuurcentrum. Aalst Belgium.

2008
“PX3 Prix de Fotografie Paris” Honorable Mention. Paris France.
"Urban Space" Curators: Wooloo Independent Curator Program. Traveling Exhibition. CVS Cultural Center. New York N.Y.

2007
"Urban Space" Curators: Wooloo Independent Curator Program. Traveling Exhibition. FotoRio - Oi Futuro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil. New Life Shop, Berlin Germany. Fotopub, Novo Mesto Slovenia. Foto Arte, Brasilia Brazil.
“Tamara Rafkin – Marianne Begaux Photographs” The American Women’s Club of Belgium. Rhode St. Genése Belgium.

2004
“Play” Momus Gallery. Atlanta Ga.

2003
“Third Year Anniversary” Momus Gallery. Atlanta Ga.
“Humanity: Divine Inspiration” Curator: Courtney Maier. Two 07 Art Gallery. New York N.Y.

2002
“Ray Charles White; Tamara Rafkin” Momus Gallery. Atlanta Ga.
“Momus Gallery Artists” Momus Gallery. Atlanta Ga.

2001
“Water” Curator: Barbara Braathan. River Gallery. Narrowsburg N.Y.

2000
“On Display” Bell South Corporate Gallery. Atlanta Ga.
“Tamara Rafkin, Ev Stone, Toon: A Group Show” Trimaxion Fine Art. Long Island City N.Y.

1999
“Environments” The Centennial Building. Atlanta Ga.

1997
“Atlanta Artists” Positive Space the Gallery. New Orleans La.

1990
“Dealing with Death: Expressions of Mourning for Friends Lost to AIDS” Traveling Exhibition. X ART Gallery. New Orleans La. New Visions Gallery. Atlanta Ga. … Read More