SAATCHI GALLERY TO PRESENT THE FIRST MAJOR SURVEY OF CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER ANASTASIA SAMOYLOVA

Saatchi Gallery & Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography are proud to present Anastasia Samoylova: Adaptation, the first major survey of contemporary American photographer Anastasia Samoylova. Curated by Taous Dahmani, this exhibition will present works from five of Samoylova’s most significant series: Floridas, FloodZone, Landscape Sublime, Image Cities, and Breakfasts.

A modern-day flâneuse with a camera in hand, Anastasia Samoylova observes the everyday to reveal its absurdities and challenge our societal constraints. Wandering through urban and ‘natural’ landscapes, Samoylova invites us to question and reflect on our surroundings. Intertwining aesthetics with socio-politics, her art is a dynamic response to our rapidly changing world, addressing themes such as capitalism, climate change, gentrification, and the gendered occupation of public space. Samoylova’s provocative vision challenges and enriches our understanding of these pressing issues. In her work, we find juxtapositions between the natural world’s fragility against the backdrop of capitalist irrationalities, unearthing long-term and every-day political dissonances.

Through her distinctive visual layering and inquisitive gaze, Anastasia Samoylova’s work explores how best to capture and provoke thought about social inequality. Meticulously crafted, her photographs invite viewers to decode and interpret. The more one engages with Samoylova’s work, the more its nuances unfold, making Adaptation not just an exhibition, but a journey into the complexities of our contemporary world.

The multiple meanings behind the word “adaptation” inspired the title of this exhibition of her work, which spans from the 2010s to today. Samoylova’s unique perspective as a first-generation immigrant to the United States fuels her exploration of cultural, environmental, and societal adaptation.

About the works on display
Floridas serves as a microcosm of the United States, unravelling the complex socio-political landscape of the eclectic, sun-soaked state. From pink flamingos to abandoned buildings and vibrant pink churches, Samoylova captures Florida’s layers, and the intricate mosaic it truly is.

FloodZone documents the southern states in the wake of hurricanes and other natural disasters, but Samoylova shifts her gaze away from the spectacle of climate change, focusing instead on its pervasive and omnipresent effects on daily life.

Created in the age of online visual culture, Landscape Sublime challenges the stereotypes surrounding landscape representation. Through her kaleidoscopic constructions—such as “Four Seasons” (2018), “Matterhorn” (2015), and “Glaciers” (2015), featured in the exhibition—Samoylova dismantles preconceived notions about nature.

Photographs of major urban capitals like New York City, London, and Brussels form the core of Image Cities, continuing Samoylova’s exploration of the pervasive influence of visual capitalism on urban landscapes.

Originally conceived as an homage to Samoylova’s favourite photobooks, Breakfasts evolved into a playful still life series and witty, tongue-in-cheek appropriations. Blending artistic inspiration with a sense of humour, the series is composed of carefully crafted visual tributes to the photographic canon.

Anastasia Samoylova: Adaptation was produced by the Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography, Minneapolis/ Paris/Lausanne in collaboration with the Saatchi Gallery, London.

The accompanying book published by Thames & Hudson, Adaptation (2024), is available for purchase in the Gallery Shop and through Saatchi Store Online.

Open from 5 November, 2024 to 20 January, 2025, this is a ticketed exhibition. A ticket will grant entry to both Anastasia Samoylova: Adaptation and As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic – Saatchi Gallery’s two major Winter exhibitions which will run simultaneously – for the price usually reserved for a single exhibition ticket. Saatchi Gallery Winter Lates will take place on 8 November, 6 December and 17 January, featuring drawing classes, workshops and creative activations.

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About Anastasia Samoylova
Anastasia Samoylova is a Russian-born American artist who alternates between observational photography and studio practice. In 2024, her exhibition Floridas: Anastasia Samoylova and Walker Evans will be presented at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Recent exhibitions include C/O Berlin, Fundación MAPFRE, George Eastman Museum, Chrysler Museum of Art, and V&A Dundee. Samoylova’s work is in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Perez Art Museum, Miami; the High Museum of Art, Atlanta; and the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago. Publications include FloodZone (Steidl, 2019), Floridas (Steidl, 2022), and Image Cities (Fundación Mapfre, 2023).

About Taous R. Dahmani
Taous R. Dahmani is a London-based French, British and Algerian art historian, writer and curator specializing in photography. Dr. Dahmani curated the 2022 Louis Roederer Discovery Award at Les Rencontres d’Arles in France, showcasing her keen eye for emerging talent. In October 2024, she will curate two themed group exhibitions at the Jaou Photo Biennale in Tunis, Tunisia. The following month, she will unveil a solo exhibition of SMITH at NOUA in Bodø, Norway. For FEP, she has curated Anastasia Samoylova: Adaptation at the Saatchi Gallery. Her writing is featured in photobooks published by Loose Joints, Textuel and Chose Commune, as well as in prestigious magazines like The British Journal of Photography, FOAM, GQ, Aperture, Camera Austria and 1000 Words Magazine. She has delivered talks at renowned institutions including Tate, the Getty Research Institute, the Barbican, Le Bal, and La MEP.

About The Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography
An independent non-profit organization, The Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography (FEP) produces unique and influential museum-quality photography exhibitions and circulates them around the world. The Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography (Minneapolis/ Paris/Lausanne) aims to enlighten, delight, and inspire people around the world through the presentation of photography exhibitions, publications, related online content, symposia, lectures, and other forms of educational events and materials. Founded in 2003, FEP is based in Minneapolis, a city with a vibrant tradition of support for the arts. The organization has achieved substantial results in its first two decades, with shows travelling to 35 countries on 4 continents, and with catalogues produced in many different languages.

About Saatchi Gallery
Since 1985, Saatchi Gallery has provided an innovative platform for contemporary art. Exhibitions have presented works by largely unseen young artists, or by international artists whose work has been rarely or never exhibited in the UK. This approach has made the Gallery one of the most recognised names in contemporary art. Since moving to its current 70,000 square feet space in the Duke of York’s Headquarters in Chelsea, London, the Gallery has welcomed over 10 million visitors. The Gallery hosts thousands of school visits annually and has over 6 million followers on social media. In 2019 Saatchi Gallery became a registered charity, beginning a new chapter in its history.

NOTES TO EDITORS
For all press enquiries, please contact +44 (0) 20 7811 3091, or:
Niamh Elain, Marketing & Press Executive, niamh.e@saatchigallery.com
Amelia Okell, Head of Communications, amelia@saatchigallery.com

Dates
Open to the public: 5 November 2024 – 20 January 2025, 10AM – 6PM
Saatchi Lates: Friday 8 November, Friday 6 December, Friday 17 January

Spaces
Adaptation will occupy the Second Floor Galleries.

Admission
This is a ticketed exhibition. A ticket will grant entry to both Anastasia Samoylova: Adaptation and As We Rise – Saatchi Gallery’s two major Winter exhibitions which will simultaneously – for the price usually reserved for a single exhibition ticket. Saatchi Gallery Winter Lates will take place on 8 November, 6 December and 17 January, featuring workshops led by Saatchi Gallery Learning.

Walk-ins are welcome but pre-booking is advised. Tickets can be booked in advance online at https://www.saatchigallery.com/product/winter-exhibitions

Images
Download the press images on the link above. By using the images, you acknowledge and accept the terms and conditions found on our website. These images can only be reproduced to illustrate a review or criticism of a work or report as defined by section 30 (i) and (ii) of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Social Media
Join the discussion about the exhibition online with #AnastasiaSamoylova:
Instagram: @saatchi_gallery TikTok, X: @saatchi_gallery Facebook: @saatchigalleryofficial

School visits & Community groups
With the generous support of all our patrons, for each major exhibition, there are opportunities for students and community groups to engage in creative projects and workshops. For more details, visit www.saatchigallery.com/learning or call +44 (0) 20 7811 3087.