David Drebin: Dramatic, Epic, Cinematic

Contessa Gallery is proud to announce the opening of a world-class exhibition featuring works by acclaimed photographer David Drebin. From exotic cityscapes to glamorous fashion shots, often on a grand scale, the cinematic quality of the exhibition will capture the viewers' imagination and appeal to the most experienced collector as well as to a broader audience.

Born in Toronto in 1970, David Drebin graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1996 and has lived in New York City since. He quickly made a name for himself as a visionary ad creator, editorial artist and fashion photographer. Soon after his graduation, he began creating major advertising campaigns for Mercedes, Conde Nast (Fashion Rocks), Adidas, and MTV. He has successfully carried out editorial assignments for magazines such as Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, ESPN Magazine, and Conde Nast  Traveler. He has worked with numerous celebrities, such as Charlize Theron, John Legend, Michael C. Hall, Michael Jordan, and Fergie, just to name a few.

Although Drebin originally studied at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC to pursue an acting career, he very quickly realized that he was more comfortable directing the scene, the moment, and the photograph, rather than being the actor. He wanted to understand his own imagination, as well as psychology of other people. "I like pictures that often say one thing but mean another ... maybe that is what is now referred to as "narrative" photography ... I like pictures that are often duplicitous, the ones that have hidden meanings, that are ultimately gripping and stay in my mind far beyond the moment of looking at them for the first time ...  the pictures within the pictures ... within the pictures ..." says Drebin of his works. His photographs showcase the world of the young, the beautiful and the stylish, constructing an almost cinematic narrative that blurs the line between reality and fantasy. Cinema is often seen as the last refuge of true romance. Full of old Hollywood glamour, Drebin's work often has an intimate feel. For the viewer it can be an intoxicating or frustrating experience. Each picture is only a fleeting glance as we never get to see the outcome. It is no coincidence that Drebin's first monograph released in 2007 was entitled "Love and Other Stories."

His panoramic cityscapes are the ultimate embodiment of what the artist is trying to achieve. The large-scale city shots offer us a view of not one but thousands of stories, every light in every window opens the viewer's mind to what may be going on within. The panoramic format is also an homage to the widescreen movie theaters in which motion picture story telling is played out. The recent works include images of such cities as Paris, Monte Carlo, Miami, Hong Kong and New York. The viewer  is encouraged to develop their own story about what is happening in each photograph - love or heartbreak, tragedy or comedy. Drebin says it best himself, "For me the most gripping photographs are funny, sexy and sad, or at least a combination of two of those characteristics."

Drebin's glamorous and witty photographs have brought him international acclaim; some renowned collectors include Sir Elton John and Ben Stiller. His works have been exhibited at multiple international art fairs, including The Armory Show - Modern, Paris Photo, Art Miami, Art Chicago and Art Palm Beach, and have recently been on display at The House of Photography Museum in Hamburg, Germany.