Leon Borensztein (born 22 May 1947) is an American photographer whose work reflects long-term and in-depth projects. His areas of focus are in psychological portraiture and documentary.
Borensztein has received a Guggenheim Fellowship[1] and his work is included in various public collections. His published books Metamorphosis (1977, with John MacGregor), One is Adam, One is Superman (2004) and American Portraits (2011) document salient moments in the lives of his subjects, and Sharon (2016) documents every stage of the life of his severely disabled daughter.[2][3]
Life and work
Borensztein was born in Poland.[4] He received a BA in creative art and geography from the University of Haifa, Israel in 1974. He left Israel for the US in 1977[4] and received an MFA in photography from San Francisco Art Institute in 1980.[5]
The biggest influence on his work has been his life experience. His art is intended to give voice to the unheard and unseen.
Borensztein has worked for The New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, Vogue, Fortune, and others. His work has also appeared in Life and Harper's Bazaar.[citation needed]
Between 1975 and the present, Borensztein has held various teaching positions in University of Haifa; University of California, Berkeley; Friends of Photography (Annual Member Workshop); California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland; and San Francisco Art Institute.
Publications
Publications by Borensztein
- One is Adam One is Superman: Outsider artists of Creative Growth. San Francisco: Chronicle, 2004. ISBN 9780811845311. With an introduction by Tom di Maria and an essay by John M. MacGregor.
- American Portraits 1979-1989. Portland, OR: Nazraeli, 2011. Edited by Todd Hido. ISBN 978-1-59005-305-8. With an essay by Sandra S. Phillips.
- Portraits ii. Portland, OR: Nazareli, 2012. ISBN 978-1-59005-359-1.
- Sharon. Heidelberg, Germany: Kehrer, 2016. ISBN 978-3-86828-661-8.
Publication with others
- Metamorphosis. The Fiber Art of Judith Scott. Collaboration with John M. MacGregor. Oakland: Creative Growth Art Center, 1977. ISBN 0-9673160-0-6.
- Witness No. 7. Portland, OR: Nazraeli, 2009. ISBN 978-1590052440. Photographs by Borensztein and Todd Hido, and photographs of images from books by various people that have inspired Hido.
Award
- 1987: Guggenheim Fellowship in Photography from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.[1]
Collections
Borensztein's work is held in the following permanent public collections:
- Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago IL[6]
- Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, France[citation needed]
- Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, AR[7]
- Centre Nationale de la Photographie, Paris[citation needed]
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX[8]
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA[9]
- Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR[10]
- Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, CA[citation needed]
- Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan[11]
- Di rosa Preserve[12]
References
- ^ a b "Leon A. Borensztein". John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ Booth, Katie (8 June 2015). "Father captures the fear, joy, and challenge of raising a severely disabled daughter". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ Frank, Priscilla (17 June 2015). "Single Father Photographs The Complexities Of Raising A Daughter With Disabilities". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ a b Coppelman, Alyssa (4 December 2012). "The Thinking Man's Awkward Photos". Slate (magazine). Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ "Biography". Leon Borensztein. Accessed 26 February 2017
- ^ "Borensztein, Leon". Art Institute of Chicago. Accessed 26 February 2017
- ^ "Leon A. Borensztein". Center for Creative Photography. Accessed 26 February 2017
- ^ Search results on 27 February 2017 at the museum's website showed 2 works by Borensztein.
- ^ "Leon Borensztein, Refugees from Asia, San Francisco, California, from the series American Portrait, 1984". San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Accessed 26 February 2017
- ^ "World Pageant Prince, Beauty Winner and Master Photogenic, Beaumont, TX: Borensztein, Leon A.". Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. Accessed 26 February 2017
- ^ When its search form was queried on 26 February 2017, the museum had 61 works by ボーレンスタイン, レオン (i.e. "Bōrensutain, Reon").
- ^ "Looking at you looking at me". Di rosa. Accessed 26 February 2017