group show 69
Photo for Non-Majors (Part 1)

Is a photography degree essential to “making it” in the art world (and how important is “making it” anyway?)

It's a heated topic – a question many aspiring artists grapple with as they chart their career paths. The reasons for and against are significant: on one hand, it can foster concentrated time spent making and learning among other artists, the chance to forge crucial art world connections that could lead to publication and exhibition opportunities, and eventual gallery representation. On the other hand, for those who can’t afford it, the same degree may yoke the artist to student loan debt, and it offers no guarantee of success once you've finished.

Many artists opt not to proceed down the path of the photography degree, engaging the art world on their own terms. With those artists in mind, Humble's latest open call solicited entries from photographers who learned their craft independently. Our goal with this exhibition is to surface the remarkable work of those who might not have the benefits and connections afforded by academic institutions, but are equally deserving of opportunity and recognition.

The robust response clearly indicates that contemporary photographic practice, without surprise, is thriving outside of academia, often with similar visual influences. And because we received so many noteworthy submissions, the final quarterly online exhibition of 2021 will be published in two installments. Spend some time looking at this exemplary work. You'll be glad you did.