ARTIST STATEMENT
In this work, I delve into my complex experience of being a single father to my three daughters through a series of self-portraits that extend beyond mere representation. These images are meticulously staged and composed to create a world where the boundaries between reality and the surreal blur, capturing the essence of an existence that is both familiar and disorienting.
In each photograph, I construct heightened versions of everyday moments, where every detail is carefully selected to magnify the emotional and psychological dimensions of fatherhood, childhood, and parenting in general. These scenes are real and imagined, reflecting the contradictions and complexities that define my life as a father. Whether through exaggerated lighting, impossible compositions, or distorted perspectives, these moments are metaphors for the invisible yet powerful forces that shape this experience.
These images are more than just depictions of me and my daughters; they are expressions of my internal experience, shaped by the demands, joys, and challenges of parenting. The surreal quality of the work mirrors the way my world often feels; familiar yet distorted, comforting yet unsettling. It’s in this space that I confront my fears, embrace my vulnerabilities, and find strength in the quiet moments of chaos and calm.
ARTIST BIO
Zachary P. Stephens is an artist/photographer and educator based in Vermont. His work is focused on creating conceptual, tableau photographs that explore personal narratives and life experiences. His staged, surreal images have been exhibited in galleries across the United States and internationally, including venues in California, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Virginia, Vermont, as well as Germany and the United Kingdom. Stephens holds an MFA in Visual Art from the Vermont College of Fine Art and a certificate in
Professional Photography from the Hallmark Institute of Photography. He has been a lecturer at colleges and universities including Keene State College, Springfield College, and Franklin Pierce University. Beyond his artistic practice, he has contributed visual effects work to major productions, including Yellowstone, Landman, Cold Water, Lioness, and Mayor of Kingstown.