March 22, 2024
Press Release
Nancy Hellebrand, Studio view © Nancy Hellebrand, 2024
Challenging the taboos of aging beauty, a new exhibition reveals an empathetic and uncommon vision
A Featured Exhibition of the city-wide
ReFocus: Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts Festival
In a world saturated with fleeting ideals of beauty, one artist dares to unveil a profound truth hidden beneath the surface of societal norms. Nancy Hellebrand's latest exhibition at The Print Center, EVERYBODYBEAUTIFUL, is a provocative exploration of the human experience. Through her lens, Hellebrand confronts the fear surrounding aging and loss, inviting viewers on a transformative journey of introspection and empathy. Hellebrand's artistry transcends the everyday offering a poignant meditation on the passage of time and the inherent dignity found within every aging body. The artist challenges perceptions, celebrates diversity, and embraces the timeless allure of true beauty in her groundbreaking work.
© Nancy Hellebrand, Untitled, #3479BO (Detail), 2018, Photogravure print by Cindi Ettinger, 6.5" x 4", 2024
“Her story is revealed in her flesh and in how she holds herself - and that’s the matrix for realizing how beautiful she really is. The beauty and loss in each one of our lives is seen in and on our bodies. This is true beauty, and it exists in every one of us.”
NANCY HELLEBRAND: EVERYBODYBEAUTIFUL
A Featured Exhibition of (re)FOCUS 2024
(re)FOCUS celebrates the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia Focuses
on Women in the Visual Arts/1974, a citywide festival recognizing women artists
Exhibition Dates
April 19 - July 20, 2024
Opening Reception
Thursday, April 18th, 2024, 6 - 7:30 PM
Lecture
Thursday, April 18th, 2024, 5:30 - 6 PM
Location
The Print Center
1614 Latimer Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
printcenter.org/100/
Gallery Hours
Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 6pm
Free and open to the public
PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA – Celebrated artist Nancy Hellebrand invites viewers to reconsider conventional standards of the female body with her captivating solo exhibition, Nancy Hellebrand: EVERYBODYBEAUTIFUL, at The Print Center in Philadelphia. Through her poignant photographs of the female form, Hellebrand courageously explores the physical realities of aging women's whole bodies, often forsaken for youthful allure. Printed in miniature with deep, rich tones, her images grant these women a dignified beauty, challenging societal norms. Drawing from her profound belief that a woman's naked body tells her story most directly, Hellebrand collaborates with Cindi Ettinger to present small photogravures and prints on plaster, each portraying the tender and poignant nature of aging with striking clarity. This collection embodies Hellebrand's vision of inclusivity and celebrates the inherent grace found within every stage of life. The exhibition runs from Friday, April 19 to Saturday, July 20, 2024, offering a unique opportunity to engage with Hellebrand's powerful message. The opening reception will be on Thursday, April 18th from 6:00 - 7:30 PM with a Lecture beforehand from 5:30 - 6:00 pm.
Nancy Hellebrand's artistic journey is deeply rooted in her profound appreciation for the inherent beauty of older women's bodies. Through her lens, she captures the essence of aging flesh, recognizing it as a testament to a life lived. In her exploration, Hellebrand delves beyond the surface, seeking to unveil the shared humanity and individuality present in every nuance of the aging female form. With a deliberate choice to print her photographs in varying sizes, from miniature to larger-than-life, she invites viewers to engage intimately with the full body of the subject, prompting reflections on the complexities of aging and the societal attitudes towards older women.
In a cultural landscape saturated with youth-centric ideals, Hellebrand confronts the pervasive invisibility of older women's bodies head-on. Drawing from her personal experiences of feeling marginalized and overlooked as she aged, she sheds light on the societal dismissal of aging individuals, particularly women. She challenges the prevailing narrative, highlighting the wisdom, resilience, and depth of character that come with age. Hellebrand's work serves as a poignant reminder of the intrinsic value inherent in every stage of life, urging society to embrace the beauty of every single older woman.
With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to authenticity, Hellebrand's photographic series offers an exploration of identity, resilience, and beauty in its truest form. By avoiding conventional portrayals of nudity, focusing instead on the complete body's raw vulnerability, she invites viewers to confront their preconceived notions and embrace a more inclusive definition of beauty.
© Nancy Hellebrand, Photogravures and prints on plaster, printed by Cindi Ettinger
Hellebrand's contributions to the art world extend far beyond the confines of the gallery, as evidenced by her tenure as an educator at Yale University and Parsons The New School for Design. With a career spanning over six decades, Hellebrand's influence is formidable. Her accolades include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, recognizing her unparalleled dedication to the craft. Hellebrand continues to challenge norms and push the boundaries of artistic expression in her newest work presented in this exhibition.
Nancy Hellebrand is an internationally recognized photographer having exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in NY, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Tate Liverpool. Notably, her solo exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London marked a historic first for an American artist and a living woman. Her works grace collections at The Museum of Modern Art in NY, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Yale University Art Gallery. Influenced by luminaries such as Alexey Brodovitch, John Coplans, and Bill Brandt, Hellebrand's artistry is characterized by a commitment to empathy and understanding. In her ongoing series, "Naked," Hellebrand challenges norms and celebrates the beauty of aging through striking portraits of nude older women, inviting viewers to reconsider conventional ideals. For more information on Nancy Hellebrand's work, go to: https://www.nancyhellebrand.com/gallery
The Print Center, a nonprofit gallery located in Philadelphia's historic Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, encourages the growth and understanding of photography and printmaking as vital contemporary arts through exhibitions, publications and educational programs. The Print Center is an international voice in print; our global outlook coincides with a strong sense of local purpose. Recognized as a locally significant and internationally respected gallery, an art education provider and an artists' advocate, The Print Center is known for supporting emerging and established artists; developing unusual and intriguing programs that attract a diverse audience; and making art accessible to all members of the community.
(re)FOCUS: Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts celebrates the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts/1974, a citywide festival recognizing women artists. With over 150 exhibitions, panels, lectures, workshops, and demonstrations, it was one of the first large-scale surveys of the work of contemporary American women artists, signaling the inception of the American Feminist Art Movement. (re)FOCUS 2024 is also a Philadelphia citywide festival showing how women-identified and BIPOC artists have moved from the periphery to the center of the art world. Like its 1974 predecessor, (re)FOCUS is a collaboration among Philadelphia's large, small, and diverse visual arts institutions and takes place from January 27 - May 31, 2024. For more information: https://refocus2024.org/
Nancy Hellebrand: EVERYBODYBEAUTIFUL, will be on view from Friday, April 19 to Saturday, July 20, 2024, at The Print Center. The opening reception will be on Thursday, April 18th from 6:00 - 7:30 PM with a Lecture beforehand from 5:30 - 6:00 pm. The exhibition is free and open to the public and will be open every Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. For more information, visit: https://printcenter.org/100/upcoming-exhibitions/
Hellebrand in her studio with photogravures from EVERYBODYBEAUTIFUL © Nancy Hellebrand, 2024, Photogravures and prints on plaster, printed by Cindi Ettinger
For more information about the exhibition, click here: https://printcenter.org/100/upcoming-exhibitions/
Banner Image: © Nancy Hellebrand, Photogravures and prints on plaster, printed by Cindi Ettinger