Bill Jacobson (American, b. 1955)

Born in Norwich, Connecticut, Jacobsen is widely known for his “trademark” out-of-focus photographs; a body of work he began in 1989.  Through this approach he presents more of an inner state or fleeting memory versus a clear representational image.  His early works (titled “Interim Portraits”) feature shadowy and often pale figures that frequently appear ghostly or may evoke the loss experienced by many during the height of the AIDS epidemic.  These images also underline the futility of capturing a true human likeness through photography, portraiture, and memory.

He received a BA in Art and American Studies from Brown University in 1977 and an MFA in photography in 1982 from the San Francisco Art Institute.  He has had numerous solo exhibitions nationwide and received many awards and prestigious artist’s residencies, his work has also been broadly reproduced in photography-focused publications.  His work is in important public collections including the Brooklyn Museum of Art, George Eastman House, Harvard University, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Princeton University Art Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art just to name a few.

Available Works

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