After Elliot Ross’s cat died, his wife hung a picture of the beloved animal on the wall. With a gaze that seemed fixated on Ross, he wondered if the cat had purposefully looked into the camera when the photo was taken. What was his pet thinking? In what ways does the feline consciousness differ from human consciousness? With these thoughts in mind, Ross began working on “Animal,” a series for which he makes unadorned yet powerful portraits of animals from around the world. 

If you find yourself in Amsterdam, you can see Ross’s portraits at Bloem, an Italian restaurant that regularly exhibits artists that have released titles with Schilt Publishing. In 2010, Ross published Animal, and four years later he followed up with a sequel called Other Animals. Both books examine Ross’s own musings about “being an animal in a world with other animals: the wonder and the beauty, as well as unease,” writes Schilt.

The exhibit at Bloem features images from Animal and Other Animals. Prints are available for purchase here.

Elliot Ross was born in Chicago. In 1971 he was awarded a Master of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute. His work can be found in the collections of many famous institutes around the world. He lives in San Francisco and New York City.

Animal / Other Animals
Elliot Ross
Through December 2019
Bloem, Amsterdam
Presented by Schilt Publishing & Gallery

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