Sarah Stolfa
Sarah Stolfa (born 1975) is an American contemporary artist, photographer, and musician.
Biography[]
Stolfa attended Drexel University's photography program and graduated from Yale University's MFA program in 2009. Stolfa's most recognizable series, 'The Regulars', won her The New York Times Photography Contest for College Students in 2004.[1]
As a bartender at Philadelphia’s McGlinchey’s Tavern, Stolfa began to photograph her regulars opposite the bar. Her carefully composed, large-scale color prints express the intimacy and sincerity in worker and patron relationships. Furthermore, Stolfa’s images confront a social commentary on the urban bar experience with the isolated subjects and their props, namely, ashtrays, mugs, and money. Stolfa creates powerful portraits of the diverse group of regulars in a way that is reminiscent of Seventeenth Century Dutch paintings in their color, lighting, and decipherable detail.[2]
Stolfa has participated in several group shows and had a solo show at the Pearlstein Gallery at Drexel University in 2004.
Stolfa is the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, a non-profit organization which opened in the late summer of 2009.[3]
Stolfa also played Farfisa organ in the Delta 72 in the late 90s.
Exhibitions[]
- 2004: Annual Annex Media Arts Show, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
- 2004: Leonard Perlstein Gallery, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (solo)
- 2005: Photography 24, Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
- 2005: Noteworthy, Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
- 2005: On My Own, The Print Center, Philadelphia, PA
- 2005: Arcadia Solo Exhibition, Old Greenwich, CT (solo)
- 2005: Photography 24, Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
- 2006: Second Woodmere Triennial of Contemporary Photography, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
- 2006: Patrons, Bruce Silverstein Gallery, New York, NY[4]
- 2007: Women to Watch: Photography in Philadelphia, The Galleries at Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, PA
- 2007: CAA New York Area MFA Exhibition, Hunter College/Times Square Gallery, New York, NY
- 2008: Yale MFA Photography 2008, Green Gallery, Yale University, New Haven, CT
- 2008: Yale MFA Photography 2008, Danziger Projects, New York, NY
- 2009: Personal Views: Contemporary Photographic Portraiture in Philadelphia, Gallery 339, Philadelphia, PA
Awards[]
- Noah Addis Photojournalism Award, 2004
- The New York Times Photography Contest for College Students, 2004
- Juror's Award for Artistic Excellence, Perkins Center for the Arts, 2005
- Alice Kimball English Traveling Fellowship, 2008
- Fleisher Memorial Challenge Competition, 2009
- Rankin-Epstein Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2009
Publications[]
- 2009 The Regulars, Monograph, Artisan books
References[]
General references[]
- 2006 “Photo Finish,” The Philadelphia Weekly, June 9–15
- 2004 “The Regulars,” The New York Times Magazine, June 13
- 2004 “A Student, Sarah Stolfa, Hits the Big Time,” Drexel, The Alumni Magazine of Drexel University
- 2006 “Tale of the Triennial,” Art Matters, April
- 2006 “With a Broad Brush,” Philadelphia Weekly, Fall Guide, Sept 13–19
- 2006 “Last Call,” Philadelphia City Paper, Sept 21–28
- 2006 “Bar Examinations,” Philadelphia Style Magazine, Fall
- 2006 "Philadelphia: Fall Exhibitions Short List,” Art Review, Fall
- 2007 The New Yorker, Jan 8
- 2007 The New York Times Magazine, April 29
External links[]
- Philadelphia Photo Arts Center (PPAC)
- Sarah Stolfa at Gallery 339
- theexposureproject.blogspot.com
- Photographer Sarah Stolfa moves out and says goodbye to The Regulars. By John Vettese. September 21, 2006
- Ryan Weideman and Sarah Stolfa: Silverstein Photography ArtForum. February 2007. By Lisa Turvey
- Bruce Silverstein Gallery
- Interview with Sarah Stolfa
- Drexel University alumni
- Yale University alumni
- American photographers
- Living people
- 1975 births
- American women photographers