The Awards Collective was created to feature the works of artist who have received either a Juror’s Award or Director’s Award in ASG’s Online exhibitions.  Bill Polkinhorn’s image il pensatore received the Director’s Award in the she exhibition juried by Polly Gaillard.  Bill’s exhibition Desert Stanzas is discussed in this GalleryTalk.

Artist Statement

I was born and raised in the heart of the desert. My photography is a deeply personal exploration of the landscape that has shaped me. The desert’s grandeur, its elegant sparseness, and its unyielding simplicity inspire my work. In its vast expanses, where heat and desolation reign, there is a profound stillness—a quiet that speaks to the timelessness and eternal nature of the universe.

Through my lens, I seek to capture this delicate balance: the interplay of light and shadow across the flats and hills, the weathered resilience of ancient rock formations, and the fleeting moments where life persists against all odds and, as well, life here in the desert. Each image is an invitation to pause, to feel the weight of the eternal, and to connect with the universe’s enduring presence. My photographs are not just representations of the desert—they are meditations on its ability to reveal both the ephemeral and the infinite. It is my intention to record and to preserve these places in my own imagination, but moreover the exploration of these harsh, yet stunningly beautiful landscapes offer a glimpse into possibly coming to some understanding of the human condition.

Bill Polkinhorn
May, 2025

Bio

I was born and raised in the center of the Mojave Desert which covers most of deep Southern California and  Arizona, where I own and manages Bill Polkinhorn, Inc. a customs brokerage company founded by my grandfather in 1917. I continue to live and work here.  I am married and have 4 grown daughters.   I left the desert for 13 years. 9 of which were spent in college where I earned degrees in zoology, chemistry, English Spanish and psychology.  I returned to the desert and  began working in the family business.   When I was able to return to my interests in photography in approximately 2014, digital photography was the up and coming thing.   I bought a digital camera and began teaching myself how to take pictures.  The desert was my subject and the internet was my instructor.  My first images,  taken during my teenage years were black and white.  I have come around now, once again, mostly to black and white work.  My immediate surroundings – the desert southwest has become my worthy subject – to which I have returned many times – each time – hopefully – with a higher level of consideration and thoughtful restraint.

website: billpolkinhornphotography.com
instagram:  @billpolkinhorn

link to online exhibition