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Rick Bogacz

Artist member since 2022
Toronto, Ontario

For Toronto- based photographer Rick Bogacz, taking a minimalist approach has been key in developing his working style over the past several year.

"I want the viewer to be drawn to what is important. It's always more difficult to try and determine what needs to be taken out of the frame instead of what needs to be left in."

While he always had a passion for taking pictures, Rick decided after graduating from Ryerson University's journalism program in 1981 that his career path would be more focused on the printed word. He became a newspaper reporter and spent a good chunk of his early years with the St. Catharines Standard when it was a family-owned newspaper dedicated to covering the Niagara Region.

However, after 13 years Rick decided it was time to acquire some formal photography training.

β€œI thought that if I was going to take the plunge, doing so at a younger age probably made the most sense."

Rick enrolled in the Creative Photography program at Humber College where he honed his technical proficiency. Upon graduation, he freelanced as a photojournalist combining his skills as a photographer and writer for clients across Southern Ontario.

The late 90s and 2000s saw his career path evolve in digital media. All the while though, he was taking photographs. More recently, Rick decided to rekindle his passion for fine art photography with a focus on black and white landscapes.

Combined with the Japanese philosophy of Ma - the celebration of the space between things – his goal is to evoke a calming esthetic that is both gentle and elegant. Negative space becomes as important to developing the image as the key subject matter itself.

β€œI do this to try and capture a sense of tranquility and peacefulness in a world that has experienced less of these attributes.”

Rick’s work has been shown in galleries in Canada, Europe and the US and has also been published in Noir Magazine, Artistonish, Black and White Minimalist Magazine and Black and White Magazine in the UK.


Work


Q+A

Favourite movie

Smoke with Harvey Keitel and William Hurt

Favourite musical artist / band right now

Jesse Winchester

Why is art important to you?

Art is the only thing that sustains us during turbulent times. The subjectivity about it is what keeps art interesting.

What places do you hang out in Toronto?

Ward's Island, The Beaches, High Park

What artists do you admire right now?

Michael Kenna, Edward Hopper, Jan Bell

Which piece of art you've created is your favourite, and why?

Still TBD. There are pieces that you create but then you always think there is something that could have been improved. You keep chasing the muse which is half the fun.

Select Past Exhibitions
2023

Millepiani Exhibition Space, Rome
Loosenart Monochrome Group Show

2023

Blue Crow Gallery, Toronto
Summer Art Show

2023

Cotton Factory, Hamilton
Nourish Group Art Show

2023

PH21 Gallery, Barcelona
Scene and Meaning Group Art Show

2023

Blank Wall Gallery, Athens
Black and White Group Photography Show

2023

Kefi Gallery, Toronto
Art Is...Virtual Exhibition

2023

Twist Gallery, Toronto
Horizons Group Show

2022

Black Box Gallery, Portland
Trees and Water Group Exhibition

2022

Praxis Gallery, Minneapolis
Black and White Juried Exhibition

2022

Elaine Fleck Gallery, Toronto
Group Photography Show

2022

Blank Wall Gallery, Athens
Black and White Group Show

2022

Praxis Gallery, Minneapolis
Landscape Group Show

2022

Black Box Gallery, Portland
Black and White Group Show

Accolades
2023

Refocus Photography Awards
Nominee

2023

Motif Photo Awards
Shortlisted

2022

- Prix de la Photographie de Paris
Honorable Mention

2022

Monovision Photography Awards
Honorable Mention

2022

Wild Photo Awards
Honorable Mention

2022

Fine Art Photography Awards
Fine Art Photography Awards

2021

Motif Collective Minimalist Themed Competition
Shortlisted

Press
2022

Noir Magazine
Featured Artist

2022

Humana Obscura Magazine
Featured Artist

2022

LandEscape Magazine
Featured Artist

2022

Noir Magazine
Featured Fine Art Photographer

2022

Black and White Photography Magazine
Featured Artist, Salon Section

2021

Less is More, Minimalist Photography Book, Alma Lusa Publishing
Exhibiting Artist

Education
1981

Ryerson University
BA Journalism

1995

Humber College
Creative Photography

2021

Linkedin
Marketing On Instagram

2021

Linkedin
Project Management Foundations

2022

Xanadu Gallery Art Business Academy
Starving to Successful Art Power Course

2022

Jan Bell Photography
September 2022 Workshop

Social
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