Pittsburgh Collects showcases an exhibition of 75 selected works contributed by three Pittsburgh photography collectors—Evan Mirapaul, Graham Shearing, and an anonymous collector. The exhibition is organized by Brian Lang, Curator, BNY Mellon Corporate Art Collection, Pittsburgh, and Silver Eye Board Chair; and Marcia Rosenthal, Independent Art Consultant, Fine Art Appraiser, and Silver Eye Board Member.
For serious collectors, art can quickly begin to define their lives. What may begin as pure enjoyment, soon couples with the challenge of finding more and more of their favorite pieces—may it be in terms of genre, location, style, artist, or eccentricity.
Pittsburgh’s embrace of photography as a collective art form is alive and thriving today. Fortunately, enthusiastic patrons have emerged over recent years and have been able to add exquisite examples of both classic and contemporary works to Pittsburgh's collective coffers. Pittsburgh Collects showcases a premium selection of these works from three regional collections—those of Evan Mirapaul, Graham Shearing, and an anonymous collector.
Each collector represents, not only, the varied trends in photography, but also the fascinating trends in collecting. Shearing focuses on his innate and eclectic sensibilities, while Mirapaul chooses works based on his travels and experiences with certain photographers. With individual works from many classic and renowned photographers, to selected works from one photographer taken over the span of his career, the concept behind the collections, as well as the works themselves, are what set this show apart.
These photographs showcase the history and trends in photography that is rarely seen: from recent to historic, digital prints to silver gelatin prints—even a unique, rarely used process called anthrakotype. Photographers with works selected include, but are not limited to: Aaronel deRoy Gruber, Abelardo Morell, Rosamond Purcell, Sue Abramson, William D. Wade, Minor White, Josef Sudek, and Gabor Kerekes.
