BFA Alumnus Anthony Kurtz Adds 2009 IPA and PDN Awards to his Collection
IPA 2009 Winner: "Abandoned Spree Park in Treptow Park"
One hour into his first Psychology class, Anthony walked out of the sciences forever and into the arts. He left his long-time home of Geneva, Switzerland for San Francisco, where he began attending the Academy of Art University in 2001. In the Fall of 2002, Anthony attended a mandatory liberal-arts class: Intro to Photography. Without any further education in the field, he continued to learn on his spare time while simultaneously pursuing his BFA degree in New Media.
In March 2003, he acquired his first SLR camera and documented the anti-war protests that shut down the City of San Francisco following the invasion of Iraq.
Since then, his compulsion for documentation has garnered him numerous awards. His latest two wins add to his impressive list. Anthony took 2nd place in the category of Fine Art: Landscape Pro in the International Photo Awards for his piece ” Abandoned Spree Park in Treptow Park”. His work will be screened on October 19 at the 2009 Lucie Awards, taking place at the newly renovated Alice Tully Theatre, Lincoln Center, New York.
He was also crowned a winner of the Photo District News 2009 World in Focus travel photography contest, co-sponsored by National Geographic Traveler.
“These are photographs from my backpacking, train-riding trip to India. I was there for two months with a budget of $11 per day for the last month,” he said. “I soon realized that the more I was lost, the more I found what I was looking for. The less money I had, the more exciting the adventures were.”
This amazing photo series – India: The Beautiful Struggle of Life – also scored not just one, but three awards from the PX3 photo competition in France in 2008, including first place in the People category for non-professional fine art. Vibrant faces and colorful backdrops are painted in rich hues throughout the photos, which document elements of life in India not often portrayed in the media.
The photo series was the culmination of a two-month odyssey, where Anthony traveled extensively through India, capturing the myriad faces and settings of this complex society. When talking about his inspiration for the series, Anthony explained that his interpretation of beauty differs from most Western standards. “I find beauty in wrinkled skin, stormy skies and decaying walls,” he said.
Although he didn’t plan it, most of the subjects in his India series were “Dalits” or “ Untouchables”. He said he was naturally drawn to their beauty and their surroundings.
“I believe the human condition contains a lot of beauty and people who struggle have a certain wisdom, an endurance mixed with anger and hope, and there is something beautiful about it,” said Anthony.
Early in his career at Academy of Art University, he decided to pursue a degree in New Media. The decision would allow him creative freedom and enable him to make a decent living. The interactive media and portfolio building skills he learned in the new media program at the Academy have enhanced his photography, as well.
“I often meet photographers who are unable to embed an image into an email or edit a video, let alone design their own promotional material,” he said.
A comprehensive overview of Anthony’s work is featured at www.anthonykurtz.com. Spectacular in their raw intensity and stark imagery, his photos explore such themes as nature, the world of today, and the world of tomorrow. You can also enjoy the great feature of Anthony by Design Taxi.
Parts of this post was excerpted from the Featured Stories written by the Academy of Art.
