Abelardo Morell
Encyclopedia
Abelardo Morell (born Havana
, Cuba, 1948) is a Boston-based photographer.
Morell and his family fled Cuba
in 1962, moving to New York City
. Morell earned a Bachelor of Arts
from Bowdoin College
in 1977, and a Master of Fine Arts
from Yale University
School of Art in 1981. He received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Bowdoin in 1997.
Morell is well known in the photographic community for creating camera obscura
images in various places around the world and photographing these. Morell was awarded the Cintas Foundation fellowship in 1992 and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
Fellowship in 1993.
Morell is currently a professor of photography at the Massachusetts College of Art
. He is represented by Bonni Benrubi Gallery, NYC.
A documentary on elements of Morell's life and work, Shadow of the House, was released in 2007.
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba, 1948) is a Boston-based photographer.
Morell and his family fled Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
in 1962, moving to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Morell earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
in 1977, and a Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
School of Art in 1981. He received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Bowdoin in 1997.
Morell is well known in the photographic community for creating camera obscura
Camera obscura
The camera obscura is an optical device that projects an image of its surroundings on a screen. It is used in drawing and for entertainment, and was one of the inventions that led to photography. The device consists of a box or room with a hole in one side...
images in various places around the world and photographing these. Morell was awarded the Cintas Foundation fellowship in 1992 and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation was founded in 1925 by Mr. and Mrs. Simon Guggenheim in memory of their son, who died April 26, 1922...
Fellowship in 1993.
Morell is currently a professor of photography at the Massachusetts College of Art
Massachusetts College of Art
Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a publicly-funded college of visual and applied art, founded in 1873. It is one of the oldest art schools, the only publicly-funded free-standing art school in the United States, and was the first art college in the United States to grant an artistic degree...
. He is represented by Bonni Benrubi Gallery, NYC.
A documentary on elements of Morell's life and work, Shadow of the House, was released in 2007.
Books by Morell
- A Camera in a Room. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1995.
- Abelardo Morell and the Camera Eye. Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, Calif. 1999.
- A Book of Books. Bulfinch, 2002.
- Camera Obscura. Bulfinch. 2004.
- Abelardo Morell. Phaidon. 2006.