Work In Progress by Nick Shepard

Issue 117

Much of what we see in the normal course of modern life is a delightful lie, cannily put together for our enjoyment. Objects, spaces, and images are made for our pleasure—but their shiny and chrome appearance belies little of their sloppy manufacture. How easily we forget!

Nick Shepard’s recent color still life photographs depict materials that make up scenes around us but are typically hidden from view: gypsum board, 2x4s, painter’s tape, packaging materials. Shepard depict these subjects in playful and refined geometric compositions that challenge our perception of space. Like the spaces we inhabit, the underlying elements of the pictures are hidden from view. (At least for the most part.) Yet, here and there, a corner appears, a wall’s structure is revealed, a background is hastily retouched, A shadow is misplaced, or a corner reappears, perhaps.

Nick Shepard lives and works in Sacramento, California.
To view more of Nick’s work, please visit his website.