David Akiba
Encyclopedia
David Akiba is a photographer who lives and works in Boston, MA. His name at birth was David Cohen, but when he was a young man he changed his name because there was already a photographer with that name. He was born in Boston but grew up in Winthrop, MA. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst
in 1961. He began making photographs in 1969. He went on to study with Harry Callahan
and Aaron Siskind
at the Rhode Island School of Design
, and he received a Master's in Fine Arts from there in 1973. He has worked in several formats both in documentary style and in manipulated imagery when he re-photographed his own photographs and then used copy machines to create distortions that heightened the emotional content of the photograph. His work has been exhibited widely at galleries in Boston and around the world, and is currently part of several permanent collections, including in the collections of the Boston Museum of Fine Art, The Fogg Art Museum
, The DeCordova Museum
, the Brooklyn Art Museum, and others.
He teaches part time at Emerson College
, Babson College
, and the New England School of Photography
.
He lives in Jamaica Plain with his wife, Jane Akiba, who is a portrait photographer. Jane also teaches at Emerson College
. They have four children. David also has two older sons from a previous marriage. One of his two oldest sons, Jonah Akiba, became a Hassidic Jew and now lives in Israel with his family. In 2003, Jonah's brother Daniel Akiba made a critically acclaimed short documentary called My Brother's Wedding, which featured some of David Akiba's photographs as a way of telling the story of Jonah's spiritual journey and the impact it had on his family. They held several joint exhibitions of David's family photos alongside screenings of the video. David's son Isaac Akiba is currently a member of the Boston Ballet
, having become the first person from Boston's public school dance program to make it into the elite ballet troupe.
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
in 1961. He began making photographs in 1969. He went on to study with Harry Callahan
Harry Callahan
Harry Morey Callahan was an influential twentieth century American photographer. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he began teaching himself photography in 1938. He formed a friendship with Todd Webb who was also destined to become a photographer. A talk given by Ansel Adams in 1941 inspired him to take...
and Aaron Siskind
Aaron Siskind
Aaron Siskind was an American abstract expressionist photographer. In his biography he wrote that he began his foray into photography when he received a camera for a wedding gift and began taking pictures on his honeymoon. He quickly realized the artistic potential this offered...
at the Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
, and he received a Master's in Fine Arts from there in 1973. He has worked in several formats both in documentary style and in manipulated imagery when he re-photographed his own photographs and then used copy machines to create distortions that heightened the emotional content of the photograph. His work has been exhibited widely at galleries in Boston and around the world, and is currently part of several permanent collections, including in the collections of the Boston Museum of Fine Art, The Fogg Art Museum
Fogg Art Museum
The Fogg Museum, opened to the public in 1896, is the oldest of Harvard University's art museums. The Fogg joins the Busch-Reisinger Museum and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum as part of the Harvard Art Museums....
, The DeCordova Museum
DeCordova Museum
The DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is a sculpture park and art museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts focused on modern and contemporary art, and holds a collection focused on work in all media, especially works by artists with connections to New England...
, the Brooklyn Art Museum, and others.
He teaches part time at Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
, Babson College
Babson College
Babson College is a private business school located in Wellesley, Massachusetts near Boston.- History :Babson College was founded by Roger Babson on September 3, 1919, as the Babson Institute. It was renamed "Babson College" in 1969...
, and the New England School of Photography
New England School of Photography
The New England School of Photography is a professional photography school located in Kenmore Square, Boston, Massachusetts. NESOP has approximately 150 full time students in its two-year Professional Photography Program, which offers a comprehensive education in the art, technique and business of...
.
He lives in Jamaica Plain with his wife, Jane Akiba, who is a portrait photographer. Jane also teaches at Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
. They have four children. David also has two older sons from a previous marriage. One of his two oldest sons, Jonah Akiba, became a Hassidic Jew and now lives in Israel with his family. In 2003, Jonah's brother Daniel Akiba made a critically acclaimed short documentary called My Brother's Wedding, which featured some of David Akiba's photographs as a way of telling the story of Jonah's spiritual journey and the impact it had on his family. They held several joint exhibitions of David's family photos alongside screenings of the video. David's son Isaac Akiba is currently a member of the Boston Ballet
Boston Ballet
Boston Ballet, founded in 1963 by E. Virginia Williams, was the first professional repertory ballet company in New England. Boston Ballet’s national and international reputation developed under the leadership of Artistic Directors Violette Verdy , Bruce Marks , and Anna-Marie Holmes...
, having become the first person from Boston's public school dance program to make it into the elite ballet troupe.