Bio
Deanne Sokolin (born NYC) is a visual artist whose work explores identity, ritual, and tradition. She received an MFA in Photography from the School of Visual Arts in New York and a BFA in Art History and Photography from the Boston Museum School and Tufts University. She is an International Center of Photography Infinity Award nominee, and her work is in numerous public and private collections, including the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University. Her work has been widely exhibited in galleries and museums, including Aperture Foundation, the California Museum of Photography, and Tate Modern. An early adopter of digital photography, Sokolin has held the position of Lecturer in Photography at Princeton University, the School of Visual Arts, and Marlboro College.
Sokolin’s work has been published by Aperture, ICP, Kris Graves Projects, and Overlapse Editions, among others. She has participated in artist residencies, including the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada, and the Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. After a robust commercial practice, she returned to artistic practice in 2017, continuing her exploration of identity. She lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
Statement
Investigating identity is central to my photographic practice. My work is informed by my Jewish cultural heritage and the idea of creating new meaning from old rituals. I am interested in the way rituals and traditions evolve and how they can be reinterpreted in contemporary contexts. Each body of work contributes to a broader goal of expanding identity, finding points of connection, and supporting the development of new Jewish culture.
I work primarily in the studio with a digital camera, drawing on a range of influences including Conceptual Art, Surrealism, and Documentary Photography. I make my images through a combination of self-portraiture, still life, and collage. My creative process is guided by inquiry and echoed in artist Glenn Ligon’s statement that ultimately, “Making art is about figuring out who we are”. Reflecting on heritage while envisioning new futures remains at the core of my practice.