Press Release:
Al Souza
Photoworks 1974-1983
February 22 – March 28, 2020
Reception Saturday, February 22, 5-7 pm
Moody Gallery is pleased to present Photoworks 1974-1983, an exhibition of early photographic works by Al Souza. The exhibition will be on view at Moody Gallery February 22 - March 28, concurrent with the FotoFest 2020 Biennial. A reception will be held Saturday, February 22 from 5-7 pm.
“Al Souza utilizes a grid of photographs in a sequential or serial progression not to represent motion, other than the passage of time in an almost shorthand filmic manner, but to document conceptual notions frequently derived from the nature of the medium. The pieces are entitled photoworks to distinguish them from fine art photographs. The photograph for Souza is merely a vehicle for recording the artwork which is the idea or concept. He relies exclusively on Kodak drugstore colorprints as they are perfectly sufficient for his purposes and their familiar appearance and easy accessibility prevent viewers with preconceived notions of fine art printing and dark room magic from misconstruing the nature of his work. -Hugh M. Davies, from the exhibition catalogue “Al Souza”, University Gallery, University of Massachusetts / Amherst, 1979
Al Souza was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1944 and currently resides in Worcester, Massachusetts. He has exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally. His work is part of numerous collections including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Dallas Museum of Art, El Paso Museum of Art, Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Tyler Museum of Art, University of Houston, Houston Airport System, City of Houston, New Orleans Museum of Art, Mississippi Museum of Art, Montgomery Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, Yale University Art Gallery, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Parrish Art Museum, DeCordova Museum, San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, and the University of Massachusetts. Souza was awarded an International Association of Art Critics/USA Award in 2007 for Best Show in a Commercial Gallery Nationally, 1st Place, for the exhibition David Ireland, Jess and Al Souza at Moody Gallery (December 3, 2005 - January 14, 2006).