Raymond Bleesz “Green River”
Raymond Bleesz - 2025 Selection
We’re pleased to present a new selection of Raymond Bleesz’s photographs.
Since 1970 Raymond Bleesz has lived and photographed in Colorado; he’s focused on both the history of Colorado and points west as well as the changes to the land and the people who live here. He is sensitive to the physical moods and textures of the West, its spaces, and its theatrical shifts of light. In turn, people make their marks on it, build here, and travel through.
As a former history teacher, it’s not surprising that he takes a documentary approach to his work. Bleesz regards his images as historical facts that capture the zeitgeist of his time and place. He talks about "Man's Landscapes," "Man at Work," and the "Remnants of Man." While acknowledging the nostalgic myths of the American West, Bleesz's work is also influenced by New Topographic photographers like Robert Adams, who documented the “landscape of mistakes" and exploitation. This dual perspective means his photographs often contain both elements of old-school romanticism and the harsh reality of modern development.
Throughout, Bleesz brings a humanist attitude to his photography. His pictures are imbued with a sense of empathy, even when he’s confronting landscapes and people impacted by the ravages of time. In particular, his portraits evince a sense of respect, affection, trust.
Bleesz works predominantly in black & white, a stylistic choice that allows him to emphasize mood, texture, and the traditional craft of printmaking. This gives his work a timeless, classic feel while underscoring its documentary nature. This old-school approach also aligns him with a long line of artists who have focused their life’s work on chronicling the American West.
For further information, please contact us at phh@phhfineart.
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