Biography

David Emmite is a multi-disciplinary artist who works in photography, stop-motion and sculpture. He grew up on a ranch in Northeast Texas. As the son of a “tinkerer” father, his youth was full of odd projects, raising animals, and daydreaming. David began his career in photography after a short stint in a diaper factory in his hometown of Paris, Texas. Inspired to get out of there and see the world he attended Saint Louis University (1992) and trained in Atlanta at the Portfolio Center (1994). He assisted in various New York photography studios before eventually landing in Portland, Oregon where he started his own studio in 1996. Over the past 30 years David has participated in numerous group and solo shows. He has been a show juror and a speaker. His commercial studio, Mr Curiosity, he has produced numerous award winning advertising campaigns.

Artist Statement

My work seeks to ask questions about human relationships with technology, nature, and each other. I create diorama landscapes and modify objects to form artificial world where both scale and reality are confused. My fascination for the world of taxidermy, robotics, panacea elixirs, 8 bit computing, and gadgetry is a strong influence.

In my latest project, “Observations in Smoke and Air “, I follow a tiny human observer as they try to understand the world of metaphors in which I have placed them. The hypnotic thrill of the airshow outweighs the danger. The captivating disaster of the shipwreck. The dark barter of capitalism over the environment. The heartbreaking discovery technology is not altruistic after all. These things humans face as hapless observers.

I formed wire and cotton into smoke, water, and air. Then I modified objects and presented them to my tiny human in each scene. I wanted the space to feel vast and swallow up the tiny human, neutral color, but imperfect so I used the backsides of vintage Sears portrait studio backdrops to create the world. Each image is created in-camera. I wanted to keep the rigging honest so I let the wires show. Captured digitally, presented on silver halide prints. No AI used, only HI (Human Intelligence).

Cirriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

1994 Photography Program, Portfolio Center/Miami Ad School, Atlanta GA

1992 BA, Communications, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 1992

EXPERIENCE

1996-present Director, Mr Curiosity Studio, Portland, OR

2020 Juror, Creative Circus Student Show, Atlanta, GA

2018 Juror, PDX Squared Show, Portland, OR

2015 Speaker, Adobe “Creative Jam”, Portland, OR

EXHIBITIONS

2026 Peggy Doole National Small Works Exhibition, Washington Printmakers Gallery, Washington, DC

The Big Picture, Texas Photographic Society, Arlington Texas

Smoke Show, The____Show, Portland, OR

2025 Tough Love Show, The____Show, Portland, OR

2017 The Lost Hosfords, Likewise Gallery, Portland, OR

2014 A Contemporary Bestiary, Haley Ford Museum of Art, Willamette University, Salem, OR

2008 Nobotty, Augen Gallery, Portland, OR

Dark Conscience of Alder Wiseman, Augen Gallery, Portland, OR

2007 Field Guide, Augen Gallery, Portland, OR

Soho Photo Gallery, Soho Photo National Photography Competition, 1st place, New York City,NY

Juror: Mia Fineman, Department of Photographs Metropolitan Museum of Art,New York, NY

Art of Photography Show, 2nd Place, San Diego, CA

Juror: Tim Wride, Associate Curator of Photography, Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Ultimate Landscape, Gallery 13, Minneapolis, MN

2005 Crime Story, Lost Luggage Gallery, Seattle, WA

2004 Silence Series, Lost Luggage Gallery, Seattle, WA

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Public Art 4Culture

Portable Works, Regional Arts & Culture Council, Portland, OR

AWARDS

AI-AP International Motion Arts (IMAA8) 2020

Communication Arts Photography Annual 2020, 2018,2017, 2016, 2015,2014,2005, 2004, 2002, 1996

Graphis Advertising Annual 2019,2015, 2010

Graphis Photography Annual 2017, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2001,200

PDN Photo Annual 2014

Luerzers Archive “200 Best Ad Photographers” 2004, 2003

Photo District News “30 Photographers Under 30”, 1998

FEATURES / PRESS/ INTERVIEWS

2020 American Society of Magazine Photographers Questions with a Pro: David Emmite

2017 Communication Arts Feature Feature : David Emmite

2017 American Photographic Artists National David Emmite "Mirth In Motion"