The Awards Collective was created to feature the works of artist who have received a Juror’s Award or Director’s Award in ASG’s Online exhibitions.  Polly Whitehorn’s  image “Yocelin with Sunflower“ received the Juror’s Award in the “open/unfiltered” exhibition juried by Kevin Tully.  Polly’s exhibition “Vietnam” was featured from June 1 to June 30, 2024 and is discussed in our GalleryTalk with Polly.

Artist Statement

Coming of age in the 60’s, it was hard to ignore what was happening in a small Southeast Asian country called Vietnam.

Always a curious and adventurous traveler, I made a 4-week journey there last summer.  Desirous of seeing the remote less travelled areas, I visited remote villages that are home to some of the 54 ethnic minority groups that comprise the northern region of Vietnam.

I had the good fortune to be escorted by another photographer eager to show me the riches of the landscape and the people that make it a welcoming place.

The landscape is like a symphony.  Rich and melodious with hidden vistas that surprise at every turn. The rolling hillsides of the tea fields and the sculpted, stepped terrain of ancient family-owned rice farms embody a unique magic.

These images are a sampling and a reflection of this unique experience.

Polly Whitehorn
May, 2024

Bio

I received my professional training in apparel design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, in New York City, paving the way for a successful career in clothing design. I launched a high end childrenswear company that I ran for 7 years.  Customers included Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales and specialty boutiques nationwide.

Transitioning to home décor I evolved into a nationally recognized quiltmaker and fiber artist. Adding to my skill set, I earned certificates in both Non-Profit Management and Fundraising Management working 7 years as an arts management professional at an arts council in New York.

With the advent of digital photography, I became intrigued with the ease of use and endless creative possibilities. From my cache of photos, I layer images and textures creating dreamlike photographs.

My fine art photography has been exhibited in corporate venues, libraries, museums, and galleries. It can be found in private and corporate collections. Clients for my commercial work include media publications, musicians, artists, and executives. I am currently a member and past board member of the Pittsburgh Society of Artists, the American Society of Media Photographers, the Fiber Arts Guild of Pittsburgh, Cranberry Artists Network and the Atlanta Photography Group.

I moved to Pittsburgh from New York in 2012 and divide my time between Southwestern, PA and the Sonoran Desert.

website: pollywhitehorn.com
instagram: @pollywhitehornphotography

link to online exhibition