Nationally and internationally recognized photographer and UA graduate, Brian Ulrich’s work portrays contemporary consumer culture in a manner both startling and recognizable. Ulrich’s vision is a commentary on matters social, political and historical. 6 pm, Folk Hall auditorium, reception following.
Noted internationally for his photographs portraying contemporary consumer culture, photographer Brian Ulrich will present Copia as part of the Fred and Laura Ruth Bidwell Photography Series at the Mary Schiller Myers School of Art on Monday, Nov. 5, at 6 pm in Folk Hall (150 E. Exchange St., Akron). The lecture is free and open to the public. A reception will follow. Ulrich, 36, a native of Northport, NY, and a UA graduate, has photographs in major museum collections such as the Art Institute of Chicago, The Cleveland Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and the Museum of Contemporary Photography. His work examines the excesses and peculiarities of American consumer culture. His first monograph, Copia was published in 2006 by Aperture as part of the MP3: Midwest Photographers Project. The term "copia" means plentiful supply and is associated with abundance. The ongoing Copia series of large-scale photographs offers a penetrating look at life in an affluent, consumer-dominated culture.
Ulrich received his BFA in photography from The University of Akron’s Myers School of Art and earned his MFA in photography at Columbia College Chicago. In 2007 Ulrich was named one of the 30 Emerging Photographers by Photo District News magazine. Ulrich’s work has been recently featured in the New York Times Magazine; Mother Jones magazine; the Chicago Tribune; Artforum; Harper’s; Leica World; Phat Photo (Japan); and as a frequent contributor to the magazine Adbusters. Now a resident of Chicago, Ulrich teaches at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College, curates exhibitions and is an active member of a community of young photographers and artists locally and globally through his website and blog.
