Conduit Portraits
Susan kae Grant’s Conduit Portraits originated as a collection of images created in 2004 for Conduit Gallery’s 20th anniversary celebration and collaborative exhibition. For the event, Conduit’s stable of artists worked within the space of the gallery for one month creating new work. Grant participated by setting up a photo studio in the gallery directors office and invited patrons to sit for portrait sessions.

To create her portraits, Grant constructs a custom-built backdrop of shadows assembled from an assortment of found objects and fabrics chosen specifically to evoke the quintessential personality - the essence - of each person being portrayed.

The portraits for the original series were captured live on the constructed shadowed studio set using a 4 x 5 view camera and film. The works for the exhibition existed as a site-specific installation containing a collaged wall of maps with shadow portraits hung over the birthplace of each sitter.

The images in the series are printed by the artist as 20” x 25” archival pigment prints on Hahnemüle 308 Rag paper. Each print is finished with a de-bossed signature stamp on front and labeled and hand-signed in pencil en verso.

Acquisitions: Contact Conduit Gallery
Exhibitions: Contact Susan kae Grant