Theo Coulombe received his MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art and, after a stint in Budapest, Hungary, he moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 1993. There he began working in the arts and photography, starting as a studio assistant to digital media artist Paul Garrin as well as the black and white printer for artist-photographer John Coplans. He then later ran Brooklyn Photo Studio and a series called the One Night Only Art in his loft. After living in Williamsburg for twenty-three years, he moved to Sharon, Connecticut, where he opened Standard Space gallery in 2017. He has organized solo exhibitions of works by artists such as Joshua Frankel, John Paul Philippe, Lizzie Gill, Shantell Martin, and Will Hutnick. In addition to having a keen eye for contemporary artists, he is a well-respected photographer in his own right. His work is represented in numerous collections and has been on exhibit at the New Britain Museum of American Art, Imperial War Museum, Aldrich Museum, and Tang Teaching Museum, among others. See Theo’s amazing prints in today’s Maker Monday.
Looking toward Long Pond Brook from Dug Rd Sharon CT, 2020
Andrew Joseph: What is the most challenging project you’ve worked on and how did you overcome it?
Theo Coulombe: There have been so many… Most recently I was commissioned to photograph two large mural paintings in a hotel lobby. Both final images had to be hi-res so they could be printed as wallpaper. My assistant and I photographed at night to avoid foot traffic, but the real job was postproduction. 45 hours later I had beautiful final images.
AJ: Can you describe a project that you’re particularly proud of?
TC: Photographing camouflage. It was a three-year project shot on 35mm film of random people wearing camo. Just about anywhere I went I had my camera at hand asking if I could photograph their particular item of clothing or kit. Eventually, I amassed a large collection, which you can see here.
AJ: How do you stay creative and inspired?
TC: First, my practice, which is going out in the early morning and taking photographs in fog. A close second is visiting galleries and museums to see other artists’ ideas in dialogue with one another. These visits reset my ability to see.
Mt Something Or Other, Sharon, CT Looking from West Cornwall, CT 2017
AJ: What was the last book you read and how did it inspire you?
TC: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami… While I do not run, the book’s journey of stepping outside of a process in real time, and adapting to every new circumstance while being at one with oneself, really moved and inspired me.
AJ: Can you tell us about a specific moment in your career that made you feel accomplished?
TC: Let’s see, it’s an interesting question, I’d say building stone staircases, on top of mountains in Maine when I worked for the Parkes Department and the Maine Appellation Trail Club… Did that for five seasons. Close second was having my first exhibition at a gallery in New Haven, CT or opening my own photo studio in Brooklyn with a darkroom.
AJ: What is your favorite aspect of your job?
TC: Finishing the job and communicating my satisfaction to the client… Then getting no reply.
Fog Williamsburg Bridge 1998
AJ: Can you describe a project where you had to work with a specific theme or motif?
TC: Traveling cross country with the artist Shantell Martin and photographing her in the landscape, drawing on the road, while we were on the road, while reading the book, On the Road. You can see the work here.
AJ: What’s your favorite cocktail?
TC: Ice cold gin martini with a drop of vermouth, lemon juice, and a twist. Just one, please.
AJ: Best advice you’d give your teenage self?
TC: Travel somewhere and outside of what you know, live there and learn the language. Everything changes after that.
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