BIOGRAPHY
Born in Philadelphia, Richard Kagan is a photographer and former furniture maker whose artistic career took a curiously circuitous path. He began as a self-taught street photographer while a student at Temple University. However, after leaving college to practice Buddhism under a visiting Japanese Zen Master in New York, Kagan became impassioned with the silent eloquence of handmade objects and pawned his camera to buy woodworking tools.
Following several years of apprenticeships, Kagan opened his own furniture workshop and founded the Richard Kagan Gallery—the first nationally recognized gallery for contemporary furniture artists. He taught at the Philadelphia College of Art (University of the Arts) for 10 years and exhibited furniture in museums and art institutions throughout the U.S. A back injury put an unexpected end to his woodworking career and opened the possibility to return to photography, thus bringing him back to where he began.
Beginning photography again in 1988, with academic studies and assisting other photographers, Kagan went on to have solo photography exhibitions in the United States, Great Britain and South America. He taught photography at Drexel University in the mid-1990's. An early grant from the Arts Council of Wales enabled an extended project in the U.K. and Europe culminating in an exhibition at the Royal National Eisteddfod. That project solidified a love of landscape photography first begun in Italy some years before.
Not surprisingly Kagan brought to photography some of the same aesthetic concerns with which he made furniture—a quest for quiet, understated, and elegant forms. His main bodies of work include Land/Spirit/Sky, landscapes photographed primarily in Europe; Iron Portraits, a series of austere yet sensuous portraits of antique tools and objects; and Blurred Time: Sacred Places In Kyoto, nighttime photographs taken on the grounds of temples and shrines in Japan. Richard Kagan's work is represented in public and private collections including those of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Woodmere Art Museum, State Museum of Pennsylvania, Lehigh University, University of Delaware, and the Washington Convention Center. He is based in Philadelphia and New York.
Photography RESUME
One Person Photography Exhibitions
2019 Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, Philadelphia, PA
2018 Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji, Livingston Manor, NY
2013 Gallery 270, Westwood, NJ
2008 Gallery 339, Philadelphia, PA
2005 Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson, NY
2001 Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson, NY
2000 University of the Arts, Sol Mednick Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Gomez Gallery, Baltimore, MD
The Hahn Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1996 Centro Colombo Americano, Medellin, Colombia
Drexel University, Design Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1994 National Museum of Wales, Turner House, Penarth, Wales, UK
The Works Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1993 Royal National Eisteddfod, Llanelwedd, Wales, UK
Wyeside Art Centre, Builth Wells, Wales, UK
1992 University of the Arts, Craft Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
The Works Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Booktrader Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1990 The Works Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Selected Group Photography Exhibitions
2018 "Innovative Means: Photography From The Collection," State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
2015 “50 Shades: Black to White,” Snyderman-Works Galleries, Philadelphia, PA
“Salon Art Mora,” Art Mora Gallery, New York, NY
“50 Years of Works,” Snyderman-Works Galleries, Philadelphia, PA
“It's a Long Way to Tipperary,” Gallery 339, Philadelphia, PA
2014 "The 21st Century Handmade Print," Gallery 270, Englewood, NJ
2013 Friends of Friends Photography Auction, Friends Without A Border, New York, NY
2012 Gallery 339, AIPAD, New York, NY
2011 June Bateman Fine Art, AIPAD, New York, NY
Gallery 339, Art Basel Miami, Miami, FL
Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson, NY
“Photography 31," Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
2009 “Small Landscapes,” Gallery 339, Philadelphia, PA
2008 “Photography 28,” Perkins Center for the Arts, Mooretown, NJ
2007 “Photography 26,” Perkins Center for the Arts, Mooretown, NJ (Juror Award)
2006 “Everyday,” Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, Lancaster, PA
“Photography 25,” Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ (Juror Award)
2004 “Objects of Desire,” June Bateman Gallery, New York, NY
2002 “Portraits,” June Bateman Gallery, New York, NY
“Harry Kalish, Richard Kagan, Brian Peterson,” List Gallery, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
“Hometown: Philadelphia-area Photographers in the Photo Review,” Owen Patrick Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2001 “Photo 2001, Part II,” Monique Goldstrom Gallery, New York, NY
“Tenth Anniversary Exhibition,” Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
“Photography 20,” Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
1999 “Photography: Retrospect/Prospect,” Historic Yellow Springs, Chester Springs, PA
1998 “Tails of the City,” Institute of Contemporary Art, Philly Paws Benefit Auction, Philadelphia, PA
“The Fine Art of Giving,” State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
1996 “Photography: Contemporary Prospect'96," Historic Yellow Springs, Chester Springs, PA
“A Show of Hands,” Moore College of Art, Manna Benefit Auction, Philadelphia, PA
1995 Photographic Image Gallery, Portland, OR
"(dis)still(ed) lives," Houston Center for Photography, Houston, TX (7 person exhibition)
"Photography 14;" "Photography 13," 1994; "Photography 12," 1993, Perkins Center for the Art, Moorestown, NJ
1994 "Midwest Photography Invitational VIII;” University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Lawton Gallery.
Travels to (1994-1996): Vincennes University, (IN); Grinnell College, (IA); Quincy Art Center, (IL); Upper Arlington Arts
Commission, (OH); Port Huron Museum of Arts and History, (MI); Indiana State University, (IN); University of Cincinnati, (OH);
DePauw University, (IN); South Dakota State University, (S.D.)
"Photography 94," Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA
"Images: Six Photographers," Community Arts Center, Wallingford, PA
"Peters Valley Faculty Exhibition," Peters Valley Craft Center, Layton, NJ 1993; 1994
1993 "Returning to Eden: Images of Innocence," Puchong Gallery, New York, NY
"Objects Human Made," 3 person exhibition, Abington Art Center, Abington, PA
"Earthviews II," Rockville Arts Place, Rockville, MD
"Bittersweet Longings: Attitudes on Landscape," The Print Club, Philadelphia, PA
"Nature Morte," Puchong Gallery, NY, NY
"Photo 1," Center for the Arts in South Jersey, Marlton, NJ, (Award)
1992 "Works On or Of Paper Biennial Exhibition," University Gallery, University of Delaware, Newark, DE (Purchase Award)
"Midwest Photography Invitational VII," University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Lawton Gallery.
Travels to (1992-1994): University of Wisconsin-Platteville, (WI); North Dakota State University, (ND); Blanden Memorial Art
Center, (IA); Jasper Community Art Center, (IN); Morningside College, (IA); Saint Mary's College, (MN); Ohio State University,
(OH); Louisiana Technical University, (LA)
1991 "Photography 10;" "Photography 9,"1990, Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
"Photography '91," Abington Art Center, Abington, PA
"Philadelphia Juvenilia," Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, PA
"Action AIDS Invitational Benefit Exhibition," Booktrader Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1991; 1992; 1993
1990 "Photograpy '90," Abington Art Center, Abington, PA
"Artists of South Philadelphia," Painted Bride Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Level 3 Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1989 "Photography '89," Abington Art Center, Abington, PA (Award)
Photography Collections
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
University Gallery, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
The Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Johns Hopkins Kimmel Center Art Collection, Baltimore, MD
Llandrindod Wells School, Llandrindod Wells, Wales, U.K.
Book
IRON PORTRAITS, Richard Kagan (Monograph), Blurb, 2011
Video
ARTIST RICHARD KAGAN, ENERGY WITHIN STILLNESS, by John Thornton, YouTube, 2019
Catalogs ― Photography
Friends of Friends Photography Auction, Friends Without A Border, 2013
The Photo Review Benefit Auction, 2012
Washington Convention Center Art Collection, Washington DC, 2003
The Photo Review Benefit Auction, 2004, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997
Tails of The City, Philly Paws Benefit Auction, Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, PA, 1998
A Show of Hands, MANNA Auction, Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, PA ,1996
Lecciones de Objetos: Fotografias Richard Kagan, Centro Colombo Americano, Medellin, Colombia, 1996
Photography: Contemporary Prospect, Historic Yellow Springs, Chester Springs, PA,1996
Artistiaid Preswyl, Artists-in-Residence 1984-1994, Newport Museum and Art Gallery, Gwent, Wales, UK, 1994
Midwest Photography International VIII, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 1994
Photo Review Benefit Auction, Vol. 17, No. 4, 1994; Vol. 16, No. 4, 1993
Works On or Of Paper, University of Delaware, 1992
The Photo Review Benefit Auction, Vol. 15, No. 4, 1992; Vol. 14, No. 4, 1991; Vol. 13, No. 1, 1990
Photography '89, Abington Art Gallery, Abington, PA, 1989
Selected Photography Articles and Reviews
Cleaver Literary Magazine, (Article), Issue No. 27, Fall 2019
Mark Fields PhotoTalk, (Blog), December 16, 2008
Image World: Nancy Brokaw on Photography, (Blog), December 3, 2008
B&W- Black & White Magazine, (Article), Issue 27, October 2003
Copia, Vol. 05, Issue 02.02
City Paper (Baltimore), (Review), July 12, 2000
The Photo Review Newsletter (Cover Photo), April/May, 2002
Philadelphia City Paper, (Review), May 18, 2000
The Photo Review, (Review and Interview), Vol. 19, No. 2, Spring 1996
El Mundo Vida (Review), Medellin, Colombia, May 9, 1996
The Photo Review (Author), An Interview with David Lebe, Vol. 18, No. 2, Spring, 1995
Originally published in a slightly different form in the Pinhole Journal, Vol. 10, No. 2, August 1994
and later published in Apogee Photo Magazine―Part I, June 30, 2016; Part II, July 5, 2016
Uned Gelf, Art Unit (Review). Autumn, 1994 #8 Wales, UK
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Review), July 1, 1994
Art Matters (Review), Vol. 13, No. 10. July-August, 1994
Philadelphia City Paper (Review), July 15, 1994
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Review), April 17, 1994
Art Matters (Review), November 1993
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Review), November 7, 1993
BBC TV (Interview), Wales, UK, August 1993
Arddangosfa Celf A Chrefft 1993 (Article - Exhibition Catalog), National Eisteddfod of Wales, UK
Light Reading Photo Newsletter (Article), No. 8, July 1993, UK
The Photo Review (Photography competition), Vol. 16, No. 3, 1993; Vol. 15, No. 3, 1992; Vol.14, No.3, 1991
Art Matters (Review), Vol. 12, No. 5, February 1993
The Photo Review (Review), Vol. 15, No. 2, 1992
The Welcomat (Review), November 11, 1992
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Review), October 26, 1990
Grants
1993 Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales, Wales, U.K.
Arts Council of Wales, International Artists Exchange Program, Wales, U.K.
Teaching and Workshops -- Photography
1996-98 Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (Adjunct Associate Professor)
1993 The Llandrindod Wells School, Llandrindod Wells, Wales, U.K. (Artist-in-Residence)
Peters Valley Craft Center, Layton, NJ (Photo Workshops) 1993, ‘94, ‘99, 2000
Selected Lectures - Photography
2018 Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji, Livingston Manor, NY
2006 University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
1999 Peters Valley Craft Center, Layton, NJ
1994 Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
Peters Valley Craft Center, Layton, NJ
1993 Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales, Llanelwedd, Wales, UK
Peters Valley Craft Center, Layton, NJ
Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
1992 University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Professional Training and Photography Education
1988-91 Darkroom Assistant to David Lebe, Philadelphia, PA
1989 International Center for Photography, New York, NY
Maine Photo Workshop, Rockport, ME
1988 Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Education
1966 New School for Social Research, New York, NY
1962-65 Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Born 1945, Philadelphia, PA
NB: Prior to his photography career, Richard Kagan was a furniture maker, woodworking professor, and director of the Richard Kagan
Gallery. A back injury forced the closing of his workshop in 1987 paving the way for a second career--photography.