4185 - Johnstone, Charles

Johnstone, Charles "New York Storefront Churches" portfolio. 2008. 24 chromogenic prints. Each approximately 22.8 x 22.8 cm (sheet 35.3 x 27.8 cm). Each signed, numbered, and dated by the photographer in black ink on the reverse. Edition of 10 and 2 artist’s proofs. Published in New York in 2012. Includes a title page and a list of titles with a colophon, signed by the artist. Presented in an original gray linen clamshell case with the title stamped in black on the front cover (37.5 x 29.3 cm). Charles Johnstone’s work has been influenced by the American “New Topographics” photographers of the 1970s, whose restrained approach changed perceptions of the urban landscape, as well as by the conceptual artist Ed Ruscha. He has also long admired Luigi Ghirri, particularly for his use of color. On his walks through New York, Johnstone found inspiration in the makeshift storefront churches he encountered, with their colorful, often weathered facades. Bringing together a variety of these churches, each with its own distinct character, the portfolio documents a distinctive and potentially vanishing aspect of the city’s religious and architectural landscape. – In excellent condition with vibrant colors.