Kelly Writers House will display a new exhibit, titled "Outside Images," showcasing photography by students at Penn and other schools in the Philadelphia area.
The exhibit, curated by College junior Lila Shermata, features a diverse group of photographs of non-human subjects, such as rural and urban landscapes. The show will open with a reception at 6 p.m. on Feb. 13 in the Brodsky Gallery, which is the Kelly Writers House's dedicated space for programming related to the visual and literary arts.
"Outside Images" is the Brodsky Gallery's first exhibition of the spring semester. Shermata said that the idea for the show grew from her love for photography and curiosity about the types of scenes captured by students.
"I wanted to do an eclectic photography show and open it up to people outside of Penn and other Philly schools as well," she said.
The open call garnered over twenty submissions, from which Shermata said that she selected images that she herself felt inspired by. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that there is "always more to look at" in the art on display, given the gallery's function as a shared space.
“There’s mostly landscapes and pictures of people from behind, like movement, or just the absence of people,” Shermata said. "It's like the image without people, outside of people."
The selection includes a diverse array of work, ranging from architectural structures to scenes in nature.
Engineering junior Fiona Wu said that she typically lacks the opportunity to pursue art in her free time and viewed the show’s open call as an opportunity to do so. Two of her pieces will be on display in the exhibition, including one that she took on a visit to Casablanca, Morocco last summer.
“My images are tied with memories from my past that I really enjoy, so photography is very important to me,” Wu said.
College sophomore Ivanna Dudych said that she had never previously displayed her photography, but decided to submit after seeing posters for the show.
One of her submitted pieces is called “Striped” and depicts her in a dress on a beach in France, while many of her other photos portray flowers and landscapes. Dudych said that she enjoys capturing moments through photography spontaneously, using both her phone and a digital camera.
“I want people to think about things like, "oh, where is that? Where did she take this picture?” Dudych said. “They’re very scenic and spur of the moment, and I would say the colors of my work really stand out both through the film and the digital, so I hope people feel a warmth when they look at it.”
The photographs will remain on display through late March. Shermata highlighted that while photography shows often feature one or two artists, "Outside Images" showcases the work of over fifteen students.
"It has as many people as possible, and that matters a lot to me, to show a wide range of perspectives," she said.
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