Gregory Halpern Headshot

Gregory Halpern

Professor

School of Photographic Arts and Sciences
College of Art and Design

Gregory Halpern

Professor

School of Photographic Arts and Sciences
College of Art and Design

Education

BA, Harvard University; MFA, California College of the Arts

Bio

Gregory Halpern has published five books of photographs and is the editor, along with Jason Fulford, of The Photographer’s Playbook: Over 250 Assignments and Ideas (Aperture, 2014). He holds a BA in History and Literature from Harvard University and an MFA from California College of the Arts. Halpern was the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2014 and is a member of Magnum Photos. In 2020 he will have solo shows at SFMoMA, the Henri Cartier Bresson Foundation in Paris, and Transformer Station in Cleveland.


Personal Links
Areas of Expertise

Select Scholarship

Shows/Exhibits/Installations
Halpern, Gregory. But Still, It Turns. n.d. International Center of Photography, New York. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. Solo Booth. Sep. 2021. The Armory Show, NYC, New York City. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. Documentary Sur/Realism. n.d. online, New York. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. "Let the Sun Beheaded Be". Sep. 2020. Foundation Henri Cartier Bresson, Paris, France. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. Omaha Sketchbook. 19 Sep. 2019. Huxley-Parlour Gallery, London, UK. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. Confederate Moons. 2018. Galerie Wouter van Leeuwen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. Gregory Halpern: Omaha Sketchbook | ZZYZX. Oct. 2020. Loock Galerie, Berlin. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. Gregory Halpern: Omaha Sketchbook. Sep. 2019. Huxley-Parlour Gallery, London, UK. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. ZZYZX. 6 Jun. 2017. Webber Gallery Sace, London, UK. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory and Diane Arbus, Jim Goldberg, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn and more. Speech. 9 Feb. 2017. Pace MacGill, New York. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. Fotodoks Festival for Contemporary Documentary Photography. 9 Feb. 2017. Fotodoks, Munich, Germany. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. ZZYZX. 28 Sep. 2016. Micamera, Milan, Italy. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. ZZYZX. 2016. Galerie Wouter van Leeuwen, Milan, Italy. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory and Gregory Halpern, Sam(antha) Contis, Bayete Ross Smith. Indivisible. 9 Feb. 2016. Fotomuseum Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory and Ahndraya Parlato. East of the Sun, West of the Moon. 2015. CEPA Gallery, Buffalo, NY. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. "A" (Solo Show). 30 Nov. 2012. Galerie Wouter van Leeuwen, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. "A" (Solo Show). 5 Jan. 2012. ClampArt Gallery, New York, NY. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. The 2012 VICE Photo Show (Group Show). Aug. 2012. Black and White Gallery, Brooklyn, NY. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. Into the Woods (Group Show). Jun. 2012. ClampArt Gallery, New York, NY. Exhibit.
Halpern, Gregory. A Survey of Documentary Styles in Early 21st Century Photobooks: Selections from the Indie Photo Book Library (with Printed Exhibition Catalog). Sep. 2012. Gallery Carte Blanche, San Francisco, CA & Contemporary Arts Center, PhotoNOLA, New Orleans, LA, New Orleans, LA & San Francisco, CA. Exhibit.
Book Chapter
Halpern, Gregory. "ZZYZX." But Still, It Turns. London, UK: MACK, 2021. 20. Print.
Phillips, Sandra. "Gregory Halpern." American Geography. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Radius Books, 2021. Print.
Halpern, Gregory. "Gregory Halpern." Photographs Not Taken: A Collection of Photographers? Essays, Edited by Will Steacy, Daylight Books. Ed. Will Steacy. Hillsborough, NC: Daylight Books, 2012. 65-68. Print.
Halpern, Gregory. "War Games, Violence Removed." Light & Lens: Photography in the Digital Age, Second Edition. New York, NY: Focal Press, 2012. Print.
Published Review
Meyers, William. "'But Still, It Turns: Recent Photography From the World’ Review: Capturing Quotidian America." Rev. of But Still, It Turns: Recent Photography From the World, by William Meyers. Wall Street Journal 21 Feb. 2021: Print.
Abel-Hirsch, Hannah. "British Journal of Photography, "A Reminder of What it Means to Photograph the Tumult of Everyday Life"." Rev. of But Still, It Turns: Recent Photography From the World, by Hannah Abel-Hirsch. British Journal of Photography 22 Feb. 2021: Web.
Bengal, Rebecca. "And the Clock Waits so Patiently." Rev. of But Still, It Turns: Recent Photography From the World, by Rebecca Bengal. Paris Review 11 Feb. 2021: Print.
Keats, Jonathon. "From a Mojave Counterculture to the Racial Divide of St. Louis, See the Hidden America Exposed by Nine Contemporary Documentary Photographers"." Rev. of But Still, It Turns: Recent Photography From the World, by Jonathon Keats. Forbes 22 Feb. 2021: Web.
Lubow, Arthur. "Photographing Life as It’s Seen, Not Staged"." Rev. of But Still, It Turns: Recent Photography From the World, by Arthur Lubow. The New York Times 5 Feb. 2021: Print.
Abel-Hirsch, Hannah. "“Magical Beauty and Deep Pain in Gregory Halpern’s Homage to Guadeloupe"." Rev. of Let the Sun Beheaded Be, by Hannah Abel-Hirsch. British Journal of Photography 27 Aug. 2020: ?. Print.
Abel-Hirsch, Hannah. "“Omaha Sketchbook: 15 Years of Midwestern Masculinity"." Rev. of Omaha Sketchbook, by Hannah Abel-Hirsch. British Journal of Photography Sep. 2019: ?. Print.
Wallis, Brian. "A Chronicle of Midwestern Masculinity." Rev. of Omaha Sketchbook, by Brian Wallis. Aperture Foundation 2019: ?. Web.
Dickerman, Kenneth. "A New Photography Book Meditates on What it Means to be Male and American in the Midwest." Rev. of Omaha Sketchbook, by Gregory Halpern. Washington Post 2019: ?. Print.
Hatfield, Zack. "Critics’ Picks: Speech at Pace/MacGill Gallery." Rev. of Speech, by Gregory Halpern. Artforum Mar. 2017: ?. Print.
Aletti, Vince. "Gregory Halpern." Rev. of "A", by Vince Aletti. The New Yorker Jan. 2012: 1. Print.
Jude, Ron. Rev. “Special Section: Photo-Bookworks: Omaha Sketchbook by Gregory Halpern.” Afterimage Magazine, 37.6 (2010),36. Print.
Full Length Book
Halpern, Gregory. Let the Sun Beheaded Be. New York, United States: Aperture Foundation, 2020. Print.
Halpern, Gregory. Omaha Sketchbook. 1 ed. London, UK, London, UK: MACK, 2019. Print.
Halpern, Gregory. Omaha Sketchbook. London, United Kingdon: MACK Books, 2019. Print.
Halpern, Gregory. Confederate Moons. 1 ed. Oakland, CA: TBW Books, 2018. Print.
Halpern, Gregory. ZZYZX. London, United Kingdon: MACK, 2016. Print.
Halpern, Gregory and Ahndraya Parlato. East of the Sun, West of the Moon. 1 ed. Paris, France, Paris, France: Études, 2014. Print.
Museum Collection Acquisition
Halpern, Gregory. Prints from "Let the Sun Beheaded Be". Photographs (C-Prints). San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (2020).
National/International Competition Award Winner
Halpern, Gregory. Fondation d’entreprise Hermès. Immersion Commission. Paris, France, 2019.
Halpern, Gregory. Hermès Foundation / SFMOMA / Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation. Immersion Commission. Paris, France, Paris, France, 2018.
Halpern, Gregory. Musée de l'Elysée. Finalist, Prix Elysée. Lausanne, Switzerland, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2018.
Halpern, Gregory. John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship. New York, NY, 2014.
Halpern, Gregory. Photobook Award, 5th Kassel Photo Book Festival (Printed Catalog to Accompany Award). Photobook Award. Paris, France, 2012.
Halpern, Gregory. Photo-Eye. Photo-Eye Top Ten Book of the Year. Santa Fe, NM, 2012.
Installation/Exhibit/Performance
Halpern, Gregory. Omaha Sketchbook. Polyester Gallery, Omaha, NE. 7-31 May 2010. Exhibition.
Halpern, Gregory. New Work New York. Curated by Tim Barber of Tiny Vices. Levi’s Photo Workshop, New York, NY. 7 — 17 Oct. 2010. Exhibition.
Halpern, Gregory. There’s a Way in Which. A PLAySPACE Exhibition in Honor of Larry Sultan. PLAySPACE Gallery at California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA.15 Oct. - 12 Nov. 2010. Exhibition. É 
Halpern, Gregory. Le Garage Artists’ Books. Biennial Septembre de la Photographie. Lyon, France. Sept. 2010, Exhibition. É 
Halpern, Gregory. There and Gone: One Hour Photo, InSPIRATion, American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, Washington, DC. 8 May — 6 June 2010. Exhibition. É 

Currently Teaching

PHAR-599
1 - 3 Credits
Photography Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, will propose a course of study. Photography Independent Study students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll.
PHFA-531
3 Credits
Fine art photography students in this class will have the unique opportunity to participate in a one-week intensive workshop that travels to New York City. During the field trip and accompanying lectures and studio/museum/gallery visits, students will gain an immersive exposure to the fields of fine art and applied photography and related industries in New York City. Students will meet with a variety of photographers, art gallery directors, museum personnel, studio artists, assistants, and RIT alumni to show their portfolio. **Fee: A course fee applied via student account**
PHGR-631
3 Credits
This course will offer students the unique opportunity to participate in a one-week intensive workshop in New York City. Students will meet with photographers, art gallery directors, museum personnel, artists, studio assistants, and RIT alumni in NYC. There will be accompanying lectures and studio/museum/gallery visits. Students will gain an immersive exposure to the field of fine art, applied photography, and related industries. Course work includes researching: professional photography studios, art magazines, galleries, photo/art museums, and universities. Permission to enroll is required. Travel fees will be required.
PHGR-703
6 Credits
This critique course, the first in a two semester sequence, will establish a working methodology, critically engage with peers, and develop a body of new artwork. At the conclusion of the semester, all students will participate in a work share event.
PHGR-704
6 Credits
This critique course is the second in a two semester sequence. Having established a working methodology in Studio Core I, students will continue to experiment and produce a significant body of work through critical engagement with their peers and their own research and experimentation. Successful completion of the course will result in advancement to half-candidacy via a formal review by MFA faculty.
PHGR-799
1 - 4 Credits
An independent study allows graduate students in the Photography and Related Media program the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, should propose a course of study or project with clearly defined goals and outcomes. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll. **NOTE: Student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA *

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