Sage Sohier: Passing Time
“Amidst the isolation imposed by the pandemic, I seized the opportunity to delve into my collection of negatives and contact sheets from the 1980s. To my delight, I uncovered a trove of captivating images that had never seen the light of day. These photographs, captured between 1979 and 1985 in a pre-digital era marked by minimal air-conditioning, portray an era when people sought refuge from the sweltering heat of their homes by congregating in yards and on the streets. A distinctive, laid-back sensuality permeates many of these images, reflecting an epoch where time moved at a more leisurely pace, and a sense of restlessness often gave rise to spontaneous play.
In my early years as a photographer, I harbored the ambitious goal of crafting a portrait of contemporary America by documenting individuals within their native environments. My fixation was on creating intricate portraits of people in neighborhoods, homes, and on porches. The urgency of my work demanded a swift approach, allowing me to capture the essence of my subjects before they returned to their daily routines. While seeking permission to photograph often altered the dynamics of the situations, staying longer than a mere snapshot or two frequently revealed intriguing aspects. Intruding personal space could be uncomfortable, yet my enthusiasm was often infectious, enabling people to relax and be themselves.” — Excerpt from the Introduction by Sage Sohier
The second monograph showcasing Sage Sohier’s work, titled “Passing Time,” showcases 57 images printed in rich duotone on Japanese Kasadaka art paper and bound in dark brown linen. This limited first edition comprises 1,000 casebound copies.
About the Author
Sage Sohier has been honored with fellowships from esteemed institutions such as the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the No Strings Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation.
Her extensive body of work includes eight monographs, with the latest being “Passing Time,” released by Nazraeli Press in 2023. Other notable publications include “Peaceable Kingdom” (2021) with an essay by Sy Montgomery, “Animals” (2019) featuring Sohier’s black and white portraits from the 80s and 90s, and “Americans Seen” (2017), a collection of environmental portraits from the 1980s. Additionally, she has explored themes such as her ex-fashion-model mother in “Witness to Beauty” (2017), same-sex couples in the 1980s in “At Home With Themselves” (2014), facial paralysis in “About Face” (2012), and “Perfectible Worlds” (2007), published by Photolucida.
Sohier’s solo exhibitions have graced prominent galleries, including Foley Gallery in New York, Robert Klein Gallery in Boston, Carroll and Sons Gallery in Boston, Joseph Bellows Gallery in San Diego, The Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago, and Blue Sky Gallery in Portland, OR. Her works have also found a place in group exhibitions at prestigious institutions like the Museum of Modern Art, NY, the International Center of Photography, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Her photographic legacy extends into the collections of renowned institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Portland Art Museum, the Davis Museum, Wellesley College, and the Brooklyn Museum, among others.
Beyond her artistic pursuits, Sohier has shared her knowledge as a photography instructor at Harvard University, Wellesley College, and the Massachusetts College of Art. She has undertaken commissioned work for institutions like the George Gund Foundation in Cleveland, the Robert Rauschenberg Residency program in Captiva, FL, and the Photographic Resource Center in Boston. Furthermore, her editorial contributions have been featured in numerous publications.
Represented by Robert Klein Gallery in Boston and Joseph Bellows Gallery in CA, Sage Sohier continues to make a profound impact on the world of photography.
