Grey Crawford
Choma
California, 1975–1985
Become a supporter of the first comprehensive monograph of the artist’s early work and experimental colour photography.
To be published by Beam Editions, November 2021
An opportunity to purchase
a signed, first edition of the book and limited edition print
‘Like the sculptors and painters of the day, I asked myself, how far could I push the medium of photography?’
– Grey Crawford
From the late 1970s Grey Crawford developed a highly experimental darkroom practice that utilised colour processing techniques in an entirely new way. The artist produced a series of prints known as ‘Chroma’. Scenes of Los Angeles and the surrounding desert are cut with geometric, abstract interventions depicting a California set between the promise of modernism and the sprawling chaos of the urban sprawl.
In the 1970s sculpture had been pushed to its limits by minimalism, conceptual art and performance was emerging, and abstract painting was the establishment.
Photography was barely considered an art form, and Grey Crawford was one the most radical artists working in the medium.
Crawford developed experimental techniques in the darkroom to create a visual language that bought together a highly graphic aesthetic with documentary photography. So far ahead of it’s time, Crawford images look like artworks created in the digital environment but long before computers were central to the visual world.
The Chroma series captures the urban sprawl and decay of Los Angeles in the late 1970 and early 80s. Crawford’s geometric interventions into the photographic image were not just formal innovations.
Crawford makes us look harder at the ordinary scenes and locations that form a city’s landscape.
The Chroma series highlights both the idealism and the failures of American modernism.
Support the book
Beam Editions in collaboration with Grey Crawford are aiming to produce a 250 page authoritative monograph on the artist’s Chroma series.
Documenting the artist’s early experiments in colour photography the book will be supported by essays from Timothy Persons, Adjunct Professor at the Aalto University School of Art and Design in Helsinki, Finland, Mark Rawlinson, Professor of Art History at the University of Nottingham and other contributors to be confirmed.
Beam Editions is looking to raise around $25,000 from patron’s, institutions and supporters to tell the story of an artist that was previously overlooked but has proved to pioneer of his time.
Become a patron
Patron’s are invited to contribute $3000 or above. All patron’s will can be named in the book and will receive a special boxed edition of the book which includes a unique print in an edition of 10. Books will be signed by Grey Crawford and all patrons will be invited to a special celebration lunch when this is possible 2021 / 22.
Become an institutional partner
If you are an institution and would like to partner on the project, contact us for more information.
Pre-order the book (for wholesale customers)
If you are an institution and would like to partner on the project, contact us for more information.