Judith Joy Ross

Opening: Thursday, 19 December, 4 – 7pm
Opening hours: Wed-Sat 2-7pm & by appointment

Zander Galerie Paris is pleased to present a series of works by Judith Joy Ross, one of the most renowned and influential contemporary artists in American photography. Since the early 1980s, Ross (b. 1946, Hazleton, Pennsylvania) has produced a remarkable body of work focusing on sensitive, authentic portraits of people at the heart of society: schoolchildren and teachers, teenagers, soldiers, visitors to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., or members of the U.S. Congress. Her portraits, which are mainly conceptualized in series, offer an aesthetic as well as a psychologically empathetic approach to photography. The traditional, elaborate way in which Ross works with a large format camera and tripod gives her the time to engage with the person she is about to photograph. In this way, the act of photographing becomes an intense encounter between photographer and subject, an expression of attention and appreciation for the person involved. Thanks to the shallow depth of field, the photographs lift the people from the background, balancing visual intimacy and respectful distance. The exhibition Protest the War captures the fervor and humanity of anti-war demonstrations at the time of the Iraq war. As the demonstrators are being photographed separately from the gathering, their vulnerability is highlighted, underscoring American society’s struggle to understand their commitment. Demonstrating represents a risk in the face of a social order that prioritizes work. By using an 8 x 10 inch view camera, Ross portrays protesters with an extraordinary sense of intimacy and dignity, emphasizing both their individuality and shared commitment to peace. By highlighting the humanity of activists, the artist seeks to change the way they are perceived. The series transcends the immediate political context, offering a timeless exploration of civic engagement, moral courage, and the quiet power of collective resistance.