David Aschkenas: Flora & Fauna
December 4th, 2024 - February 5th, 2025
Celebrating 50 years of photography with one of David’s most sensational exhibitions to date
David Aschkenas has been a renowned photographer in Pittsburgh for 50 years. During this time span, the talented and hard-working Aschkenas has built up a superb resume. In only his first year of picking up the camera professionally, David won second prize at the Nikon International Photo Contest. From there, he has amassed a remarkable body of work. He has been exhibited in more than 50 shows worldwide. His works are represented in a host of top-class institutions, including the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts, Polaroid Corporation, and Howard Heinz Endowment. He has produced 40 books of photography covering a wide range of settings, including Judaica in European Synagogues, Eastern Europe, the Allegheny Observatory, the Civic Arena, the Allegheny County Courthouse, and many more locales.
For David Aschkenas, 50 years manifests itself in a level of photographic mastery very few can achieve. Half a century of experience culminates in David’s latest exhibition, Flora & Fauna. This exhibition features some of the most sensational work David has released to date – in both its subject matter and in the way he has been able to capture it. In witnessing the photographs on display, one is able to experience – in ways both subtle and overt – a clinic in the technical and artistic capabilities of an expert-level photographer.
The “Flora” of the exhibition features stunning imagery of exotic flowers from Hawaii. Through David’s lens, he takes these striking blossoms and transports us on an otherworldly trip filled with vibrant hues and alien-like stigmas. The “Fauna” delivers a rare look into a collection unlike any you’ve seen before. Located in Adams Township, a big game hunter’s newly constructed mansion featured massive trophy rooms. Each contained an extensive collection of taxidermied animals highlighted by hand painted murals and constructed backgrounds. Displays so fastidious and authentic, they rivaled America’s greatest natural history museums. David’s pictures of this unique collection pulls us right into these very trophy rooms, giving us a captivating look that only he can deliver.
Postwar Gallery is proud to present this celebration of photography excellence as our inaugural exhibition. The Postwar Gallery was founded with the goal of elevating impactful American artists. While our primary focus is on American Expressionist artists from the midcentury period, we are not afraid to exhibit artists who align with our mission and who are worthy of being highlighted. David is one of these artists in spades, and we are excited to be able to commemorate his 50th year in photography with this wonderful exhibition.
