Alyson Belcher’s fine art photography is an autobiographical exploration of the fragility and ephemerality of the natural environment. Her work is often experimental and utilizes a wide range of photographic techniques to achieve her signature images. Imbued with meaning, the photographs reveal the stark beauty that can be found when one takes time to observe the natural world unfold to reveal its truth.

EDUCATION

San Francisco State University: MFA Photography, 1999

University of California at Berkeley: BA Humanities, 1989

SOLO AND TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2021

Treading Light, Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA

2018

Ice Portals, Bend Art Center, Bend, OR

2014

Nest, Gallerie Citi, Burlingame, CA

2013

Alyson Belcher and William Stanisich: A two-person show, Gallerie Citi, Burlingame CA

2010

Self, Galerie BMG, Woodstock, NY

2007

Alyson Belcher: Body of Light, Pinhole Self-Portraits, Robert Tat Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2002

Alyson Belcher: New Work, Freddie Fong Contemporary Art, San Francisco, CA

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2022

Elevation, Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA

2021

Society for Photographic Education Combined Caucus Exhibition, Dateline Gallery, Denver (Juror: Endia Beal) catalog

Kaleidoscope, Andra Norris Gallery, CA

2019

Vault, Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA

Winter x Winter, Bend Art Center, Bend, OR

2018

Society for Photographic Education Combined Caucus Juried Exhibition: LGBTQ, Multi-Cultural and Women’s Caucuses, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA (Juror: Anthony Goicolea, artist, New York, NY)

Land’s End, Andra Norris Gallery, Burlingame, CA

2017

Poetics of Light, National Science and Media Museum, Bradford, England

2015

Today / Sotheby’s, San Carlos, CA

Digital Silver Imaging, f295 Symposium, Pittsburgh, PA

2014

Women’s Voices—International Photography Exhibition 2014, Fu Jen Art Gallery, New Taipei City, Taiwan (catalog)

Poetics of Light, New Mexico History Museum, Santa Fe, NM (catalog)

Photo l.a. 2014, Louis Klaitman Vintage and Contemporary Photographs, Los Angeles, CA

2013

Small Works/Holiday Exhibition, Gallerie Citi, Burlingame, CA

San Francisco Camerawork Benefit Auction Preview Exhibition, San Francisco, CA

DC Fine Art Photography Fair, Louis Klaitman Vintage and Contemporary Photographs, Washington DC

Summer Showings: Five Gallery Artists, Robert Tat Gallery, San Francisco

Photo l.a. 2013, Louis Klaitman Vintage and Contemporary Photographs, Santa Monica, CA

2012

The Human Form, Robert Tat Gallery, San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Camerawork Benefit Auction, San Francisco, CA

2011

Gallery Selections, Galerie BMG, Woodstock, NY

San Francisco Camerawork Benefit Auction, San Francisco, CA

Hope, Space Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2010

Roll Call, San Francisco Camerawork, CA (catalog)

2009

Home for the Holidays, Corden Potts Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Ersatz, San Francisco Camerawork, CA (catalog)

Still (in) Motion, Frisbie St., Oakland, CA

2008

Elements, John Jellico Gallery, Art Institute of Colorado, Denver, CO

A Summer Salon, Robert Tat Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Spectrum 6, Mezzanine, San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Camerawork Benefit Auction, San Francisco, CA

2007

Sun Pictures to Megapixels: Archaic Processes to Alternative Realities, Williamsburg Art and Historical Society, Brooklyn, NY, Joel Simpson, curator

San Francisco Camerawork Benefit Auction

2006

Theater of the Self, Taiwan International Visual Arts Center, Taipei

The Art of Photography Show, The Lyceum Theatre Gallery, San Diego, CA Arthur Ollman, juror (catalog)

Person, Place or Thing, Robert Tomlinson Studio, Oakland, CA

San Francisco Camerawork Benefit Auction

2005

Photography Faculty Show, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Camerawork Benefit Auction

New Inventory, Freddie Fong Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2004

Photography Faculty Show, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA

Pinhole Show, Photography Center, San Francisco, CA

Classical Visions / Personal Obsessions, Freddie Fong Gallery, San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Camerawork Benefit Auction

2003

Transcending Reality: From Pinhole to Digital, Freddie Fong Contemporary Art, San Francisco, CA

New Inventory, Freddie Fong Contemporary Art, San Francisco, CA

2002

Self, Davis Art Center, Davis, CA

San Francisco Camerawork Benefit Auction

Photography Faculty Show, Academy of Art College, San Francisco, CA

Bloodshow, Quotidian Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2001

Why Pinhole? Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY

Movement Within Dance, San Francisco State University

Castro Photo, San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Camerawork Benefit Auction

2000

Shadows and Dreams, Rosenthal Art Gallery, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC

San Francisco Camerawork Benefit Auction

1999

MFA Thesis Exhibition, SFSU Art Department Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Active Edge, Mission Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA

Y2K Artist Calendar Exhibition, Galeria de la Raza, San Francisco, CA

1998

Face, SOMARTS Gallery, San Francisco, CA (catalog)

Gavilan College, Gilroy, CA

Castro Photo, San Francisco, CA

1997

Stillwell Show, SFSU Art Department Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Castro Photo, San Francisco, CA

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2019

Edwards, Tammi. 15 Noteworthy Art Professors in San Francisco. The Art Career Project, January

2018

Hirsch, Robert. Photographic Possibilities: The Expressive Use of Concepts, Equipment, Materials & Processes, Fourth Edition. New York: Routledge.

Allison Roecker, “Source on the Scene: Ice Portals Photo Exhibit,” KBNZ-TV, Bend, OR, January 5.

Danise Lee, Interview, KBND Radio, Bend, OR, January 12

2017

Adam Finkelston, ed. The Hand Magazine, Issue #15, January

2016

Sakshi Parikh, “13 Iconic Photographers on the Self Portrait,” Better Photography Magazine, March 2016

Mauricio Sapata, ed., Blur Magazine, October

2015

Eyemazing Susan, Annual Pictorial, Vol. II. Amsterdam: Eyemazing Editions

2014

Eric Renner and Nancy Spencer, Poetics of Light: Contemporary Pinhole Photography. Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press

2013

Eric Kievit, "The Stunning Photography of Alyson Belcher," Pixxler Visual Art, November 30

2010

Paul Smart, “Self,” Woodstock Times, December 9

2009

Robert Hirsch, Photographic Possibilities: The Expressive Use of Equipment, Ideas, Materials, and Processes, Third Edition. Burlington: Focal Press.

Alyson Belcher, "Pinhole-Self Portraits," Camera Obscura, http://cameraobscura.busdraghi.net/2009/tecniche-antiche-alternative/stenopeo/alyson-belcher/

2008

Angela Farris Belt, The Elements of Photography: Understanding and Creating Sophisticated Images. Burlington: Focal Press.

2007

Jean Michel Galley, Le Sténopé de la Photographie sans Objectif. Paris: Actes Sud

2006

David Best, “Spotlight: Alyson Belcher,” Black & White Magazine, Issue 41, February 2006

Webesteem Art & Design Magazine (online), number 14: 4/2005

“Worth a Look,” Palo Alto Weekly, March 24

The Art of Photography Show, Exhibition Catalog, San Diego, CA

2005

Steve Anchell, “State of the Arts: Black and White Photography San Francisco Style,” Focus Magazine, Issue 2, Volume 1, August

Michael Leaverton, "Body Movin," A Pinhole Progressive,” SF Weekly, Vol. 24, no. 27, August 3

2003

Zyzzyva, Vol. 19, no. 1, Spring 2003

2001

Pinhole Journal: Contemporary Images 9, Vol. 17, no. 2

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA

New Mexico History Museum, Albuquerque, NM

Hyatt Hotels San Francisco

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

2018

Lensculture, Editor’s Pick, Art Photography Awards

Life Framer, Winner, Face of the Earth

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Sierra College, Rocklin, CA Instructor, History and Aesthetics of Photography, 2019-current

The Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA Faculty, Online School of Photography, 2014-current

The Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA Associate Director, School of Photography 2011-13

The Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA Faculty and Curriculum Coordinator, School of Photography, 2000-10

Bay Area Photographers Collective, San Francisco, CA, Instructor, Pinhole Photography Workshop, 2000

San Francisco Art Institute, Instructor, History of Photography, 2001

GUEST LECTURES

2022

Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA

2018

Bend Art Center, Bend, OR

2015

f295 Symposium, Pittsburgh, PA Getting Lost, a survey of my San Francisco landscape photographs

2014

City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA Presented my work as part of the Photographers and Their Images lecture series

2013

San Francisco Camerawork Presented my work to the First Exposures Program, a photography program for under-served youth ages 11-18

2007

Zeum: San Francisco Children’s Museum, San Francisco, CA

Presented my work and demonstrated pinhole photography for the Zeum Masters Internship Program.

City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Presented my work as part of the Photographers and Their Images lecture series

2006

San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, guest lecturer for the Graduate Art Seminar

2005

Bay Area Photographers Collective, San Francisco, CA, guest lecturer