ARTIST STATEMENT

Perception changes and evolves simply by stopping and observing something over a period of time. My ‘minimalist’ series entitled “Getty Stairs” exemplifies this simple notion. I have always aspired to be exhibited at this favorite museum and this is an homage to that idea instead, I am featuring the Getty Museum.

At first you just see a staircase. Then you notice people at various stages of ascent and descent and somehow this seems to inspire a viewer to consider a variety of emotions from lonely silence to hurried excitement, from each image to the next. I find there to be more “life” and “story” behind the mundane rather than the animated, and I like to explore this idea in my work, not to mention the simple parallel between going up and down stairs symbolic of life’s ups and downs.

BORN: 1945 in Casablanca, Morocco

BIO:

With roots in fashion advertising, travel leisure and editorial photography, this world traveler has an extensive list of professional creative merits and accomplishments. With extensive past works in Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Glamour magazine his passion for photography and design create a harmonious balance that are evident in his current portfolio. Daniel’s passion and knowledge of both film and digital photography along with his philosophy and enthusiasm for life transcend to the images.

Born in Morocco, raised in Israel, since a young age, de Azoulay played rhythm guitar and established for himself a successful music band. At the age of 20 de Azoulay was intrigued by photography after witnessing a family friend process photos in a dark room. The magical image that appeared on a once-blank paper, became something de Azoulay decided to leave his successful music career behind for. While studying photography in Copenhagen and doing editorial work in fashion magazines and publications, he crossed paths with the late model Wilhelmina Cooper (of the Wilhelmina Model empire) who encouraged de Azoulay to pursue a career in fashion photography in the USA.

de Azoulay relocated to New York City US in the mid-seventies, opening a studio in Soho. He landed editiorial work for major modeling agencies and magazines his shoots all inspired by iconic photographers of the time including Richard Avedon, Francesco Scavullo and Irving Penn. With the growing demand for location shoots in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, de Azoulay eventually opened a studio on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale where he shot numerous editorials and ads for major retailers Lillie Rubin and Mayor’s Jewelers.

In the mid 90’s Azoulay decided to switch gears and focus his attention on the works of the late Walker Evans, who documented his fascination with Americana, de Azoulay was immediately taken by the kitsch and vintage sentiment of Americana and began to shoot only with Kodakchrome 25 slide film. Since then, he has acquired over 150,000 slides of his rendition of Americana which he entitles, Lost in America.

For the past 15 years, Azoulay has been focusing on documenting his fascination with the notions of “Americana”, capturing lonely images of rural silos, abandoned drive in theatres and gas stations during his annual cross-country drives fitted with three cameras (two digitals and his camera of choice, a Hasselblad), and his road bicycle. He has captured the mystique of Sedona, the sense of loss along Route 66 and the high brow world of Beverly Hills in his unique photos and photo series and logged over 100,000 miles on his truck.

Azoulay’s lifelong passion for photography and cameras has been the running force behind Daniel Azoulay Gallery and he continues to dedicate his time to promoting and discovering contemporary photographers and their works between road trips of course. USA OUT OF FOCUS, a body of work, re-emerge as a photographer, with encouragement from museum directors to collectors.

SELECT PERMANENT COLLECTIONS and PROJECTS:

The Related Group, Corporate Collection
The Plaza on Brickell, Miami
500 Brickell, Miami
The Lofts, Miami
Midtown Miami, Miami
Fisher Island Spa, Fisher Island
Novecento Restaurant, Miami
The Venture, Aventura
The Beach Club, Hallandale
Boca Grande, Boca Raton
Moorings at Lantana, Lantana
Cityplace South Tower, West Palm Beach


DANIEL AZOULAY GALLERY 305-576-1977 info@danielazoulaygallery.com www.danielazoulaygallery.com