2nd Place Winner — “Luminous” Exhibit, Andrea Zinn
Welcome to the CEV Art Gallery interview series, where we go behind the canvas with the incredible talent driving our contemporary art community. Today, we are thrilled to spotlight artist Andrea Zinn, the Second Place winner of our online international Luminous juried exhibition. Our Luminous exhibition brought together contemporary artists from across the globe to explore the vast, transformative power of light. From brilliant reflections and physical radiance to deeper, metaphorical themes of hope, energy, and visual illumination, the virtual gallery stands as a testament to how light shapes our human experience.
Amidst a highly competitive pool of international talent, Andrea Zinn’s work captivated our jury. Her mastery of capturing visual brilliance and emotional depth earned her a top spot in this showcase, striking a beautiful balance between raw energy and subtle reflection. In this exclusive interview, Andrea opens up about her creative process, her relationship with illumination, and the inspiration behind her award-winning work. Read on to discover how Andrea manipulates her medium to bring the intangible nature of light to life.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey as an artist—how you first discovered your passion for art and what has shaped your creative path over the years?
My path started very early. My father was an artist and for part of my early childhood he worked at home. In fact, the drafting table that is an element in my still life photos belonged to him. Growing up in Brooklyn gave us access to world class museums, and by the time I was ready for high school I knew that I wanted to study art. I went to the High School of Art and Design and then received my B.F.A. from Cooper Union. My life took a bit of a detour when I began a career as a corporate Interior Designer working with architectural firms in New York City. I had a long career working on projects in most of the major buildings in New York City developing color palettes, selecting materials and finishes, and selecting and ultimately designing furniture. During that time I continued to take photographs informally, working on still life, street photography and urban landscape - subjects that I still pursue. After I retired I took a series of classes in camera skills and editing at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan and, by the time we went into lockdown in 2020, everything was in place to begin the still life project. I think that the years spent working with colors and materials have had an aimportant influence on the way I assemble the objects for a still life session. In fact, the table coverings in three of the photographs in this exhibit are designers' showroom samples.
Every great work of art starts with a spark. Can you tell us about the specific inspiration behind your winning entry? Was there a particular moment, emotion, or observation that compelled you to bring this vision to life?
The windows in my studio get the sunlight from afternoon to sunset. There are times of the day that there are bright squares of sunlight on the floor. One afternoon I decided to try a set-up on the floor and used a piece of colored paper as a background and shot from overhead. One of my favorite objects to use in my photos is a little prismatic vase, that in the right light, sends out light and rainbows in all directions. As I had hoped, shooting downward gave a different perspective, animated by the "fireworks" from the prism.
This competition explores all forms of light and illumination. How did you decide on your specific color palette for this work, and what mood or message were you hoping those choices would communicate to the viewer?
I chose this color palette in order to accent the color of the rose and the little pink flower buds against the soft cool green of the background. This particular light green was the right color to show both the bright reflections and the shadows from the glass vases.
“I come to photography with a painter’s eye. For me, it’s about capturing the light. Sunlight, shadows, reflections and transparency. Light bouncing off reflective surfaces, light revealing structure.”
Looking ahead, what direction do you see your art evolving toward, and are there any upcoming projects or exhibitions you’re particularly excited about?
Most of the work I've done over the past few months has revolved around exploring light and transparency and looking at different ways of bringing compositional elements together within the frame of the photograph. I've been finding inspiration in Janet Fish's wonderful still life paintings and Richard Diebenkorn's early interiors.
As an online art contest, your work is being viewed on screens all over the world. How does it feel to share your art in a digital space compared to a physical gallery, and how do you think that accessibility impacts the way people connect with your message?
I've had the opportunity to be in both digital and gallery shows. Each venue has its own advantages. However, digital shows do provide a wider accessibility to an audience, and photography, in particular, is a medium well-suited to a digital format.
Anything else you want our audience to know about you?
I'm a life-long Brooklynite, living in one of the historic Flatbush neighborhoods that served as some of the first bedroom suburbs for Manhattan. I'm an enthusiastic gardener and many of the flowers in my photos come from my garden.
Thank you so much, Andrea, for inviting us into your studio and sharing such a vivid look into your creative world. It is a true privilege to see how your lifelong artistic journey—from your roots growing up with an artist father in Brooklyn, through your successful career in interior design, to your current passion for gardening—all beautifully converges within the frame of your camera.
Andrea’s ability to transform an afternoon spark of sunlight on her studio floor into a world-class, award-winning photograph reminds us of the magic that happens when an artist truly learns to chase the light. Her mastery of color, shadow, and the joyful "fireworks" of a simple prismatic vase perfectly embodies the spirit of Luminous.
To explore more of Andrea Zinn's breathtaking, light-filled still life photography and keep up with her upcoming projects, please visit her official website and follow her journey on social media below.
Connect with Andrea Zinn:
Website: Andrea Zinn Photography
Instagram: @zinnandrea
