The Artist: Hassan Hilliard

When my father taught me how to take photograph, I don’t think he had this in mind…

My introduction to photography began at 14 years old by his father, the family shutterbug, who owned a 1973 Canon A-1. Once becoming familiar with the mechanics and technology of a general high-end 35mm film camera, I bought the same identical version for my own use, which I still use today along with medium format film cameras and digital SLRs.

Furthering education through local colleges and technical seminars, I’ve transformed these learned applications to a personal creativity; blending aspects of classic lighting and portraiture with harder contrast and graphic influences to make images that are considered more as expressive pieces than photographs.

I believe in the statement Henry Cartier-Bresson made; that photography was like a quick stab as opposed to painting, which isn’t.  Even so, I feel that I relate to painters more due to the fact that I do more planned photography than impromptu, so there is still the same amount of factors to consider.  Color, contrast, impact, meaning…feeling; to me, this is what makes “good art” in photograph or anything else.  My goal is to show something of worth.  Something that treads in the area between the viewer wanting to know the inspiration behind the work and them being able to associate with what they see without explanation.

-AWARDS-
*Houston Style Magazine's 30 under 30 Entrepreneurial Award (2005)

-JURIED ART SHOWS-
*The Kinsey Institute 2009 Juried Art show (05-29/06-31-2009); School of Fine Arts; Bloomington, IN

-GALLERY EXHIBITS-
2010 Shows
*Rochester Erotic Arts Festival [REAF] (03-26/03-28-2010); Harrow East Ballroom; Rochester, NY
www.nudeniteorlando.com
*Nude Nite Expo (03-04/03-06-2010); Armature Works Trolley Warehouse; Tampa, FL
*Nude Nite Expo (02-11/02-13-2010); Brookhaven workspace; Orlando, FL
*MFAH Citywide African-American Artist Exhibition (01-29/2-28-2010); The Tearoom Gallery/Community Artists Collective/Houston, TX
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*The Dirty Show (10.5) (09-25/10-03-2009); Detroit, MI.
*Art Undressed Tour Accepted Artist (Dallas Show / cancelled); Dallas, TX; http://www.artundressed.net/exhibition_artists.php
*Summer Canvas Fundraiser (06-25-2009); The Mosaic/Houston, TX
*Eros Pulse Winter 2009 Show (03-06/03-07-2009); Denver Co-Op Creative/Denver, CO
*Nude Nite Expo (02-12/02-14-2009); Brookhaven workspace; Orlando, FL 
*Picturing Ike - The Online Exhibit (10-01/12-01-2008); The Houston Center of Photography/Houston, TX (www.hcponline.org)
*Another Look (08-01/09-06-2008); The Tearoom Gallery/Community Artists Collective/Houston, TX
*Broadening Exposure Pt. 2 (02-08/03-14-2008); The Tearoom Gallery/Community Artists Collective/Houston, TX
*Broadening Exposure (01-15/02-28-2008); Christ Church Cathedral/Houston, TX
*The Extended Legacy (09-20/10-20-2007); The Tearoom Gallery/Community Artists Collective/Houston, TX
*Silent Auction/Benefit (08-18-2007); The Gramillion Gallery/Houston, TX
*Ojos Artisticos de Talento Bilingue (Oct 2005); Talento Bilingue House/Houston, TX

-RADIO/PODCASTS-
http://www.photographerandmodel.com/blo … -hilliard/

-TELEVISION FEATURES-
*Christina's Court; Photo featured on show 01-08-2008

-PUBLICATIONS-
*Houston. It's Worth It - IKE (commemorative book); Pgs 24-25; Ttweak Publishing; 2009
*Eros Pulse Winter 2009 coffee table/catalog book; 2009
*Pleasures (12 month pinup calendar); 2007
*Noir Magazine (premiere issue); 2006
*Jones Magazine (spring ed.); 2006
*Houston Style Magazine; 01/2005-01/2006 weekly