Current – Fridericianum
Current
Photo Credit
CATHERINE OPIE
THE PAUSE THAT DREAMS AGAINST ERASURE
February 14 – July 19, 2026
Questions about what defines a person, what influences shape their character, how it is possible to break free from the determining influences of society, and what alternative lifestyles could be realistic options are all questions that form the core framework of Catherine Opie’s artistic practice. Since the early 1990s, the artist has been working on a complex body of work that includes photographs in particular, but also films, art books, and installations. Beyond the norm, it points to a variety of possible responses. Born in 1961 in Sandusky, Ohio, and now living in Los Angeles, Opie draws on the traditions of 20th-century socially oriented photography while at the same time giving it a far-sighted, sensitive update. In so doing, she establishes her own unique visual language and aesthetic, which—together with the social relevance of her themes—contributes to her being one of the most influential figures of the present day. Indeed, it is against this backdrop that Opie held a professorship in photography at the University of California, Los Angeles, from 2001 to 2023.
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