Carlos Ocando Photography

Artist Statement

When I walk on the streets I feel lost in an amalgamation of color, light, shadows and mainly stories. Stories made in my mind of another dimension where there is no people, only inhabited by their memories present in the architecture and objects left by them on the streets. I like to have fun while I work and like to create similes with simple things from everyday life, this help me to cope with the anxiety, depression and desolation that I’ve felt since the death of my grandfather from Covid and the pandemic.

After more than 10 years working strictly as a black and white photographer I started to fall in love with color once again by exploring the streets around Houston and small towns around Texas.

I also like to create stories with the different elements in these forgotten parts of the city, specially back alleys, where these spaces become a theatre of the mundane.

Bio

Carlos Ocando is a Venezuelan-American photographer that specializes in the urban landscape, the urban abstraction and liminal spaces. Early in his life, driven by his passion for electronics and computers decided to get a B.S on Electrical Engineering.

During his time in college he developed a new hobby, photography, he walked around campus taking photos of interesting views that he would see between classes. Inspired by nature and how light interacts with it. In the year 2009 he decided to start working as a freelance photographer, also working as an assistant and photo-retoucher with portrait photographer Albert Frangiéh.

Working with him for two years learned everything he needed to become a professional photographer but also learned about fine art photography, the history of photography and studied the masters of photography from the 20th century.

For over 10 years Carlos focused on black and white landscape and still life photography. After the pandemic something switched inside of him, and decided to start exploring around his apartment and the streets around, fascinated by the play of light, shadow and color. Feeling that everything around us: back alleys, patches on walls, shopping carts and electrical devices have beauty and a story to tell.

Awards

2023 “16th International Color Awards”, Honorable Mention, USA.

2022 “17th Black and White Spider Awards”, Nominee (Final Selection), Beverly Hills, CA.

2021   “Hasselblad Masters”, Finalist, Sweden.

2021   “15th International Color Awards”, Nominee, USA.

2021   “Tokyo Foto Awards 2021”, Gold Ribon Winner , Tokyo, Japan.

2021 “16th Black and White Spider Awards”, Nominee (Finalist), Beverly Hills, CA.

2020   “Tokyo Foto Awards 2020”, Honorable Mention, Tokyo, Japan

2020   “International Photography Awards 2020” Honorable Mention, Fine Art - Still Life Category, New York, NY.

2020 “15th Black and White Spider Awards”, Nominee (Finalist), Beverly Hills, CA.

2019 “14th Black and White Spider Awards”, Selected as Nominee (Finalist), Beverly Hills, CA.

2016 “USA Landscape Photographer of the Year 2016”. Finalist. United States.

2016 “Texas Biggest 10 for Art 2016”. Winner. Katy Contemporary Art Museum. Katy, TX 2015 “International Photography Awards: One Shot”. Honorable Mention. Los Angeles, CA. 2014 “Prix de Photographie PX3 Blue”. Honorable Mention. Paris, France.

2012 “8vo Salón de Jóvenes Artistas”. Honorable Mention. Contemporary Arts Museum of Zulia. Venezuela.

2011 “Photography Masters Awards”. Nominee (Official selection). New York, NY. 2010 “Prix de la Photographie PX3”. Official Selection. Paris, France.

Exhibitions

2022 “Foto Maracaibo 2022”, Beaux Arts Center, Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2022 “Now Contemporary 2022”, Arts Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX.

2021 “Annual Curated Exhibition” Fort Worth Community Art Center, Fort Worth, TX.

2021 “The Big Show 2021”, Lawndale Art Center, Houston, TX.

2021 “Whistand: Latinx Art in Times of Conflict”, Houston Holocaust Museum, Houston, TX. 2019 “Urban Landscape”, Texas Photographic Society @ The Silos, Houston, TX.

2019 “Trees: Life in the Slow Lane”, Photoplace Gallery, Middlebury VT.

2017 “Houston Center for Photography 35th Annual Juried Membership Exhibition Curator: Dr. Rebecca Senf. Houston, TX.

2016 “Earth”. Group Exhibition. Fotofest 2016. Serrano Gallery. Houston, TX. 2015 “28th Dia de los Muertos”. Auction. Lawndale Art Center. Houston, TX. 2015 “VAA 7th Juried Invitational Exhibition”. Avis Frank Gallery. Houston, TX.

2014 “27th Dia de los Muertos”. Auction. Lawndale Art Center. Houston, TX.

2014 “Wanted: Wildlife”. Group Exhibition. Katy Contemporary Arts Museum. Katy, TX.

2014 “Six Profiles”. Group Exhibition. Club Náutico Gallery. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2013 9th. Young Artists Salon. Official Selection. Zulia Contemporary Art Museum. Maracaibo,Venezuela.

2013 “Fragments of Time 3”. Group Exhibition. Club Náutico Gallery. Maracaibo, Venezuela. 2013 Group Exhibition. CEVAZ Gallery. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2013 “Imaginary 2013”. Group Exhibition. Gala Gallery. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2012 8th. Young Artists Salon. Honorable Mention. Zulia Contemporary Art Museum. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2012 8th. Salon of Emerging Artists. Official Selection. CEVAZ Gallery. Maracaibo, Venezuela 2012 “Imaginary 2012”. Group Exhibition. Gala Gallery. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2011 “Fragments of Time”. Group Exhibition. Club Náutico. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2011 “Young at FIAAM”. Group Exhibition. Lia Bermudez Contemporary Art Museum. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2011 7th. Young Artists Salon. Official Selection. Zulia Contemporary Art Museum. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2011 “3rd. Photography Art Show”. CEVAZ Gallery. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2009 “5th. Maracaibo’s Biannual”. Lia Bermudez Contemporary Art Museum. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2008 “1st. Eco Festival of Amateur Photography”. Rafael Urdaneta University Gallery. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

Collections.

Zulia Contemporary Arts Museum. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

Lia Bermudez Contemporary Arts Museum. Maracaibo, Venezuela. Private Collections. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

Private Collections. Houston. TX.

Representation

June Bateman Fineart
35 Hudson Street #5A
Yonkers, NY 10701
www.junebateman.com