Justine Kurland

I am inspired by Justine Kurland’s artwork. Justine Kurland is a contemporary fine art photographer from New York born in 1969. When Kurland was 15 she left New York to live in Manhattan with her aunt and this is where she found her interest in art. Kurland has produced many projects throughout her life in which she has been inspired by her own past experiences and her present experiences of her adult life. However the one I have taken an interest in is her artwork called “Live Dangerously” in which she produced in 2020. Although she uses her past experiences to inspire her work, this project was based off things she did not get to experience growing up. This included rebelling as a teenager and having freedom to live however she wanted. She created this project to explore the lives of teenagers against the stereotypes and gender roles of society. These images include teenagers climbing trees, setting of smoke bombs, skinny dipping and other activities that she didn’t get to do. In this project she also looks into the female gaze and the connections that females have with each other. She looks at the protection and empowerment of woman that they can find within themselves and not males. Most of her images only include females which allow female viewers to connect with her work through the bond shown through the camera.

Justine Kurland is a contemporary fine art photographer from New York born in 1969. When Justine Kurland was 15 she ran away from home to Manhattan to live with her aunt, this is where she took an interest in art. Justine Kurland is inspired by both her past experiences of being a child and a teenager and also her current experiences of adult life. These experiences inspire her to recreate the memories she has. She spends a lot of her time searching for models and areas to set up her tableaux photoshoot.

Justine Kurland’s photoshoot called “live dangerously” is about revealing bold and dynamic ways that females inhabit nature. Justine Kurland’s photoshoots are of young females setting off smoke bombs, skinny dipping and climbing trees. This is a way to show how females are rebel against the patriarchal institutions.