From the beginning of her photography career, AnnMarie gravitated to the portrait over any other subject matter. She chose physically attractive men and women to photograph, wanting to capture their beauty immortally on film, for, as an overweight woman, she wished to possess, in some way, that kind of beauty that was considered ideal by society’s standards. Upon talking to her subjects, however, she learned that none of them felt confident in their appearance. With this epiphany, she then began photographing her self as she wanted to be seen – as beautiful. Through encouragement by her peers, as well as her, then new, job as an artists’ model, a confidence grew within her and the act of photographing herself took precedence.
As time went on, her images began to change direction pointing more inward as she looks to resolve other personal issues in her life. AnnMarie sees herself as multi-faceted, with intertwined layers of emotional and physical beauty and turmoil, sometimes feathering the line of demarcation. Her work is narrative in nature and now, with working with other materials, has begun to push the envelope in how she wants to be perceived.
Her inspirations include the art of the Pre-Raphaelites, Symbolists, and Romanticists, and the photography of Julia Margaret Cameron and Francesca Woodman. Along those, music has also a profound effect on her work – Celtic and New Age music especially.
Resume
Education:
B.F.A. Photography, Magna Cum Laude – Long Island University/C.W. Post – Brookville, NY
Solo Exhibitions:
2010 Artist in Residence exhibit – East End Arts Council Carriage House – Riverhead, NY
2006 Self Works on Paper– Fine Arts Exhibition Hall/Adelphi University – Garden City, NY
2004 Body of Work: AnnMarie Tornabene – Winchester Guildhall Gallery – Winchester, UK
Fragments of Being – fotofoto Gallery – Huntington, NY
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2010 Through Different Eyes – Chase Edwards Gallery – Oyster Bay, NY
2009 Through Women’s Eyes – St. Joseph’s College – Patchogue, NY
2007 Photo 2007 – B.J Spoke Gallery – Huntington, NY
Indwelling: Living in a Female Body – Cooper Union – New York, NY
Inspired Portraits – Island to Island – Dimbola Lodge Museum – Isle of Wight, UK and Hillwood Museum – Brookville, NY
2005 Juried Art Exhibition – The Spinnato Gallery – East Setauket, NY
2004 Darkroom to Digital – The Hutchins Gallery/Long Island University – Brookville, NY
2003 Inaugural Exhibition – fotofoto Gallery – Huntington, NY
Selections: Photography – The Anthony Giordano Gallery/ Dowling College – Oakdale, NY
Recent Works 2003 – Limner Gallery – New York, NY
Photo Exhibition 2003 – BJ Spoke Gallery – Huntington, NY
Women of the Web – Stepping Stone Gallery – Huntington, NY
2002 Young Photographers’ Show – Stepping Stone Gallery – Huntington, NY
Photography Exhibit 2002 – BJ Spoke Gallery – Huntington, NY
2001 Private Auction – Center of Photography at Woodstock – Woodstock, NY
Under the Influence – Islip Art Museum – Islip, NY 2000
Off The Highway 2000 – Gallery Sink – Denver, CO
Insiders/Outsiders – SoHo Photo – New York, NY
Photo Exhibition 2000 – BJ Spoke Gallery – Huntington, NY
Publications:
Spring/Summer 2004 Direct Art magazine Limner Gallery Exhibition article
Fall 2003 The Anthony Giordano Gallery catalogue Selections: Photography
Fall 1999 AnnMarie Tornabene: Self-Portraits as Therapy – Inscape, UK Issue No. 35
Reviews/Interviews:
October 2007 Spelling it out in Black and White – NY Times – Benjamin Genocchio
Inspired Portraits at C.W.Post Campus – Newsday – Ariella Budick
October 2003 Selections:Photography Exhibit – NY Times- Helen Harrison August 2002
Photography Exhibition 2002- NY Times- Helen Harrison June 2002
www.meowpower.org – Lynda L. Hinkle; interview
March 2000 AnnMarie Tornabene: Photographer and Nude Model – Newsday- Caryn Eve Murray
Lectures:
Winter 2010 Guest Speaker – East End Arts Council Artist in Residence – Riverhead, NY
Guest Speaker – Thomas Nelson Community College – Hampton, VA
Fall 2007 Guest Speaker – Island to Island: Inspired Portraits exhibit – Brookville, NY
Fall 2004 Guest Speaker – Nassau Community College – Uniondale, NY Winter 2004
Guest Speaker – Long Island Camera Club – Port Washington, NY
Fall 2003 Guest Speaker – Selections: Photography exhibit – Oakdale, NY
Awards/Residencies:
2010 Artist Residency – East End Arts Council
1998 Long Island University School of Visual and Performing Arts Award of Excellence in Photography
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