Gregory Crewdson
- StudioPeel
- Apr 12, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 12, 2023
Gregory who…? Oh Gregory Crewdson
…..this is how the conversation started with a friend when we started to talk about the work of Gregory Crewdson. His images have a familiarity to them, yet he may not be as widely known as some other contemporary artists.
Crewdson's work is often described as cinematic, with images that are highly staged and meticulously composed. He creates dreamlike scenes that are both familiar and unsettling. His use of light and shadow is especially noteworthy, as he often employs artificial light sources to create a sense of mood and atmosphere in his images.
Lighting and composition are two key elements that are crucial to his art. Crewdson's use of light is especially important and one of the key elements that initially drew me to his work.
'...there is this beautiful kind of still image that you can actually see on set. That’s the moment I really live for because it’s like when the whole world makes sense...'Gregory Crewdson
He carefully controls the placement and intensity of the light, using it to highlight certain elements of the scene and to create shadows and contrast. His use of light often creates a sense of mystery and ambiguity, leaving the viewer with a sense of uncertainty and unease. There is often a central figure as the focal point of the image, with a carefully constructed environment surrounding them. This creates a sense of tension and drama, as the viewer is drawn into the image and forced to confront the strange and surreal elements of the scene.
I came across the work of Gregory Crewdson about 5 or 6 years ago. His work reminds me of the paintings of Edward Hopper, another American artist who shares many similarities with Crewdson’s art and his approach, particularly in their depictions of loneliness and isolation in small-town America. One of the most striking similarities between Hopper and Crewdson is their use of light and shadow to create a sense of mood and atmosphere in their paintings and photographs, but that’s for another time…….
Here are two video interviews with Gregory Crewdson that are worth a watch if his work interests you. The first is from Gagosian Gallery (link above) ahead of his ‘Eclipse of Moths’ exhibition. With Crewdson in conversation with Malcolm Gladwell, Elvis Mitchell and Jeff Tweedy.
The second is an interview with Cate Blanchett. Crewdson takes us through the process and his thoughts and ideas he explores in his images in a bit more detail, giving a bit more of a ‘behind the scenes’ view of his work.
Below is a small, slightly random, selection of other photographers / artists that I enjoy exploring their work.
