Hugh Kretschmer

I grew up in Los Angeles and was one of seven children in a family of artists. On one side was my father, a Photo-Instrumentation Engineer for NASA who worked on the Mercury through Apollo Missions. He introduced me to photography and taught me problem-solving- taking an idea and finding a way to realize it. Then there was my mother, the artist, who introduced me to Early 20th Century art movements, notably Cubism, Dada, Russian Constructivism, and Surrealism. It was the perfect combination that led me to understand that my photography has no limitations and that there is a solution to every visual problem.

After receiving a BFA from the Art Center College of Design, I brought my parent’s influences together in a portfolio of photographic still-life constructions inspired by my love of those Masters I admired. In 1995, I moved to New York City, seized the opportunity to change directions with my work, focused my efforts towards Photo-Illustration and began my exploration of the medium, focusing on in-camera techniques such as practical collage, sculpture, and prop fabrication.

In my 32-year-long career, I’ve collaborated with esteemed clients such as Old Spice, Kohler, Sony, Toyota, and Penn & Teller and have been commissio...

BFA, awarded with Honors, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, USA

“Imagine Into the Imagination”, Retrospective, Hoban Museum, Seoul, South Korea (2021-22)
“Unbound 11”, Group Exhibit, Candela Gallery, Richmond, VA, 2022
“2021 Photography Prize”, Group Exhibit, BBA Gallery, Berlin, Germany (2021-22)
“Portraits Without Borders”, Group Exhibit, Fotogalerie Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany (2021-22)
“Arte na Quarentena”, Mostra Museu, São Paulo, Brazil (2021)
“Confections”, Group Show, Castelli Art Space, Culver City, CA (2018)
MOPLA Group Show, Los Angeles, CA (2017)
Vernissage Decalage Immediat, Galerie Sakura, Paris, France (2016)
Oddities and Entities, Solo Exhibit, Fathom Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (2015)
Hugh Kretschmer Photographs, Clark/Oshin Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (2009)
Shoot, Save, Show, 5th and Sunset Studios, Los Angeles, CA (2008)
Personal Visions, Parkland Art Gallery, Champaign, IL (2005)
Photography and Illustration Auction, Society of Publication Designers (2005)
30th Annual Benefit Auction, Center for Photography at Woodstock, Woodstock, NY (2005)
Photography and Illustration Auction, Society of Publication Designers (2004, 2005)
Group Show, 5+5 Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (2003)
Photography and Illustration Auction, Society of Publication Designers (2003, 2004)
Summer S...