Artist Statement

I am a Canadian born, Minnesota based artist known for creating photographs that push beyond what would be observed or taken in everyday life. My photographs are staged, composed and constructed carefully as if they were stills taken from a movie, book or play that does not actually exist. I started my career as a Visual Effects artist for film and television and I initially did not have reservations about creating images that were heavily manipulated through computer graphics. Over time, I have reconsidered this process and have cut back radically on using these techniques in my photography. Part of reason is the fact that images can now be manipulated so easily through AI and I feel there is a loss of humanity for me in this. Consequently, I now photograph many things on film and limit my 'manipulation' through attentive lighting, staging and whatever can be done in a darkroom. My hope is that these efforts and this process can translate back into humanity.

When I was young, my imagination was fueled by looking at book covers, album art and movie posters and being excited imagining the story behind those images. I find it interesting when a viewer creates a narrative around one of my images where there is limited context. The still photograph does not fill out the story the way another medium such as cinema would. The sensation could be pure escapism or a deeper memory that gets stirred. My concepts usually start in my head from dreams or memories. I find it interesting how the recollection of memories over time can become highly stylized in a way that fresh memories seem different. I enjoy collaborating with creative people I photograph and I let concepts evolve as I only see my ideas as a starting point. The people I photograph can be themselves or they can play characters. I often see myself in memories as being a different person at an earlier point in life therefore I become a character as well.

I love the collaborative process and creating a visual body of work. To me this is ongoing and there is no finish line other than when I will physically have to stop. I create art for the satisfaction and fullfillment that combines with the balance in the rest of my life.

Rod Bland – October 8th, 2025