Arno Elias
Works
Overview
His hand-painted photographs preserve cultural originality and investigate the most fundamental aspects of human experience, nature, and culture, in an effort to counteract the threats posed by globalization and industrialization.
Arno Elias is an artist born in 1977 who creates hand-painted photographs that explore culture, history, and humanity. He captures his subjects, ranging from the Mursi tribe in Ethiopia to endangered animals in Kenya, with spontaneity and delicate artificiality, creating a sense of connection through his incorporation of hand painting. Elias' work aims to preserve cultural originality and indigenous values threatened by globalization and industrialization. He is also known for his "I'm Not a Trophy" campaign, which raises awareness about endangered species. Elias' work has been exhibited globally and he currently resides and works in New York City.
Biography
Arno Elias's hand-painted photographs explore the themes of culture, history, and humanity. His work is driven by a desire to preserve cultural originality and indigenous values threatened by globalization and industrialization. Elias creates a sense of connection to his subjects and investigates the most fundamental aspects of human experience, nature, and culture.
Inspired by his diverse experiences and extensive travelling across various continents, artist Arno Elias (b.1977) uses hand-painted photographs to engage philosophical disquisitions on culture, history, and humankind. His photographs reflect the artist's wishes to maintain the cultural originality and indigenous values that are or to be "lost" in the wake of globalization and industrialization. From the faces of the Mursi tribe of Ethiopia to endangered animals in Kenya's savanna, Elias' subjects are captured spontaneous, serendipitous, and in full-length or three-quarter views, evoking a delicate artificiality. His images with fine detail and rich tonality resonate a sense of nostalgia and compelling emotion. By incorporating the act of hand painting, Elias creates a sense of connection to his subjects and multiple layers of narratives, rigorously investigating the most fundamental and intrinsic aspect of human experience, nature and culture. In 2016, He began his global "I’m Not a Trophy" campaign dedicated to fostering awareness of the rapid extinction of endangered species worldwide.
Arno Elias' work has been exhibited widely in New York, San Francisco, Paris, and Dubai. His work has been featured in numerous art fairs throughout North America including Art Chicago, San Francisco Art Market, Art Miami, Art Southampton, Art Silicon Valley, Art Toronto as well as at the prestigious Art Basel Switzerland. He currently lives and works in New York City.
Exhibitions
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CONTEXT Art Miami
November 30 - December 5, 2021BLANK SPACE is pleased to announce its participation in the 2021 Edition of Context Art Miami, which will be held at Biscayne Bay from November 30 to December 5, 2021....Read more -
The Fading Wild
Arno Elias September 27 - November 1, 2020 -
The Lost Series
Arno Elias September 1 - 30, 2015BLANK SPACE is proud to present 'Lost Series,' highlighting selections from the works of Arno Elias, a multi-talented, Paris-born photographer based in New York City. The exhibition will open on...Read more
Installation shots
Art Fairs
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CONTEXT Art Miami 2022
November 29 - December 5, 2022BLANK SPACE is pleased to announce its participation in the 2022 Edition of CONTEXT Art Miami, which will be held at One Herald Plaza November...Read more -
Kiaf PLUS Seoul 2022
September 1 - 5, 2022BLANK SPACE is pleased to announce its debut in the 2022 Edition of Kiaf PLUS Seoul, which will be held at SETEC HALL from September...Read more -
CONTEXT Art Miami 2021
November 30 - December 5, 2021BLANK SPACE is pleased to announce its participation in the 2021 Edition of Context Art Miami, which will be held at Biscayne Bay from November...Read more -
CONTEXT Art Miami 2019
December 3 - 8, 2019BLANK SPACE is pleased to announce its participation in the 2019 Edition of Context Art Miami, which will be held at Biscayne Bay from December...Read more -
Seattle Art Fair 2019
August 1 - 4, 2019BLANK SPACE is pleased to announce its participation in the 2019 Edition of The Seattle Art Fair, which will be held at the Century Link...Read more -
CONTEXT Art Miami 2018
December 4 - 9, 2018BLANK SPACE is pleased to announce its participation in the 2018 edition of Context Art Miami, which will be held at Biscayne Bay from December...Read more -
Art New York 2018
May 3 - 6, 2018BLANK SPACE is pleased to announce its participation in the 2018 Edition of Art New York, which will be held at Pier 94 from May...Read more -
CONTEXT Art Miami 2017
December 5, 2017 - December 10, 2019BLANK SPACE is pleased to announce its participation in the 2017 Edition of Context Art Miami, which will be held at Biscayne Bay from December...Read more -
Art New York 2017
May 3 - 7, 2017BLANK SPACE is pleased to announce its participation in the 2018 Edition of Art New York, which will be held at Pier 94 from May...Read more -
CONTEXT Art Miami 2016
November 29 - December 4, 2016BLANK SPACE is pleased to announce its participation in the 2016 edition of Context Art Miami, which will be held from November 29 to December...Read more -
Art New York 2016
May 3 - 8, 2016BLANK SPACE is pleased to announce its participation in the 2016 Edition of Art New York, which will be held at Pier 94 from May...Read more -
CONTEXT Art Miami 2015
December 1 - 6, 2015BLANK SPACE is pleased to announce its participation in the 2015 edition of Context Art Miami, which will be held from December 1 to December...Read more