RA Friedman

Solo Exhibitions

Figurative Alchemy, Center for Arts and History, Lewiston, ID, Sept 2019
Silver, Carbon and Brass, Ven and Vaida, Philadelphia, Sept 2012
A Cabinet of Photographic Curiosities, AxD Gallery, Philadelphia, August 2008

Group Exhibitions

In the Devil’s House Stephen Romano Gallery, NYC, October 2017
Eye of the Beholder, Pratt Manhattan, March 2017
Postcards from the Edge, Visual AIDS, NYC, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020
Spirit Photography, with Sally Mann and Hal Hirshorn, Merchant’s House Museum, NYC, August 2011
Art at Glam, Glam Nightclub, Philadelphia, August 2007
Photo Image ‘07 Nexus Gallery, Philadelphia, May 2007
Variety Show, Falling Cow Gallery, Philadelphia, December 2006

Published Work

The Laboratory Arts Collective, Jan. 2017, Jan. 2019
Peau Magazine, Summer 2016
Oitzarisme.ro (Romania), “Submission Monday,” July 6, 2015
F-Stop, April 2015
What A Roll (Spain), “Hero of the Week,” April 2015
The Laboratory Arts Collective Magazine, Feb 2015
Sun Magazine, Nov. 2013
The Laboratory Arts Collective Magazine, Sept. 2013
Supplementaire (UK), Issue #7, Feb 2012

Public Projects

The Philadelphia Covid 19 Portrait Project, started in 2020, Friedman and invited artists draw portraits of the Philadelphians lost to Covid 19. Source photos are taken either from public sources on the web or sent to the artist by family members. By producing hand drawn images of those who have perished and then creating slide photographs of them for a projection-installation, Friedman memorializes individual lives and reflects in dialogue with their humanity.

Tsirkus Fotografika (The Circus of Photography), founded 2008, a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas – , originally, a traveling, large-format, vintage portrait studio designed to bring the creative stage to communities. Project is now focused on community-based drawing projects.

NYC Film Photography Meet-up, Jan 2016-Jan 2020, organizer for a group of over 800 film photography enthusiasts.

Photographers Squared (http://photographers-squared.com), with Mindy Veissid, Jan 2015-Oct 2015, a $17K book project funded on Kickstarter to discover the authentic in the American landscape and to inspire high school and college students. The project traveled to five US locales, photographing the same subjects on medium format film (Friedman) and digitally (Veissid). Concurrently, they met with students and enthusiasts in each area.

The Concrete Muse, Oct. 2012-Oct 2014, a weekly image email and blog focusing on the Philadelphia urban landscape, black and white photography and printmaking.

The Big Nude Photo Shoot, 2012, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, a large-scale figurative work shot on large-format instant film funded via Kickstarter.

Journeys South, June 2011 completion, Philadelphia Mural Arts, Funded project residency ($20,000) to create portraits in the South 7th Street neighborhood of Philadelphia that went into a giant zoetrope.

Residencies

Lewis and Clark State College, Lewiston Idaho, Sept. 2019
* Residency Included a pinhole photography class for college photo students, faculty lecture, and pinhole light painting workshop in tandem with exhibition of pinhole work at the Center for Arts and History, Lewiston.

Press

WPTV, West Palm Beach, FLA, Interview, 07/24/20
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1789332301216322

NBC 10 TV, Philadelphia, Interview, 07/15/20
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/coronavirus/philly-artist-draws-pictures-of-those-lost-to-coronavirus/2466658/

Broad Street Review, Article, 7/27/20
https://www.broadstreetreview.com/wnwn/portraits-from-the-pandemic

Philadelphia Inquirer, Article, 07/06/20
https://www.inquirer.com/arts/ra-friedman-covid-portraits-philadelphia-20200706.html

Shootingfilm.net, April 2015
“Film versus Digital through RA Friedman’s Look.”

Teaching

Pratt Institute, Continuing & Professional Studies, drawing & analog photography 2017-Present

Mural Arts Philadelphia, Tacony Lab, drawing, pinhole, and digital photography

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Continuing Education, pinhole photography, digital photography I and II, high school intensive in photography

Education

M.F.A., Painting, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge (1994)

B.A., Technical Theatre, Harpur College, SUNY-Binghamton, NY (1985)