Daily Inspiration: Meet Ann Segal

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Segal.

Hi Ann, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As a liberal arts student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in the late 60’s I drifted into fine arts…I majored in art history at Boston University, learning history through art, particularly enjoying the history of photography, mass media, design and color theory, and received a B.A. in Fine Arts in 1970.
Around 1976 I moved to the SF Bay Area and joined an artist coop in Mill Valley, CA…I had been casually making photographs for years and this gave me an opportunity to exhibit and participate in an artist community. I served on the Mill Valley Art Commission for several years. I took many photography workshops (mostly about lighting) and assisted an established photographer for a few years, learning how to market his work.
At the same time I became interested in video and created short videos about artist friends which I aired on local cable tv and started doing commercial photography; portraits, weddings and corporate work
In 1993 I returned to my home town of Cincinnati and continued exploring my fine art work and doing commercial work. For several years I was part of Nonstock which later merged with Getty Images and once sold an image that became part of an early Prius ad.
After perhaps a decade I decided to stop doing commercial work and concentrate on ‘my own assignments’ and after decades of exhibiting, moving from film to digital to iPhone photography, I stopped pursuing exhibits to sharing my work primarily on Facebook and Instagram.
From 2012 to 2020 I participated with Fotofocus, a major biennial lens-based exhibit of images from around the world based in Cincinnati; I exhibited my work, curated exhibits of local photographers, and made ten videos about local photographers including one about myself.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a totally smooth road,,, a lot like life. Continuing to grow as an artist, the stressful challenge of finding places to show, learning the business and new technology of photography, exploring new ways to exhibit and at the same time growing as a person, dealing with the responsibilities of life are all part of the journey
Photography is a daily practice for me; it gives me joy and I share it with the world daily, hopefully creating joy and perhaps self reflection for others. My work is simple, no tricks, no hidden messages other than what the viewer chooses to see. I paint with light. I am drawn to color, texture and structure.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a child I frequently looked at a book may parents had called ‘The Family of Man,’ the catalog for a 1955 MOMA photography show curated by Edward Steichen…those images never left me.
In 1964 (at age 15) I attended the Venice Biennale with my parents, my first exposure to contemporary art; Josef Albers, Vasarely, Frank Stella, Jasper Johns, etc…all made a big impression on me.
When I graduated from BU in 1970 I felt I didn’t know how to do anything with my hands and took classes in ceramics, wood working, sewing, batik and welding, creating a plywood couch, a Parsons table and an assortment of pots and clothing.
Seeing myself as an artist was a gradual process.

How do you think about happiness?
Many things make me happy!
Nature is so beautiful! That makes me happy and if I can ‘capture’ it that makes me even happier! I love when people respond to and/or appreciate my work.
Other things that make me happy: cooking healthy and delicious food, growing flowers and veggies in my garden, moving my body, travel, being near a body of water, creating and sharing my life with my husband and dog.

Pricing:

• all photos start at $400. depending on size, paper, framing

Contact Info:

• Website: https://annsegal.com
• Instagram: asannsegal
• Facebook: Ann Segal