The Garden of Eden can be perceived as an idealized, mythological place that is protected from knowledge and discord – a paradise of pleasure and ease – or a prison of control and, therefore, sorrow. The artists included in Picturing Eden interpret Paradise through a photographic lens to contemplate, even redefine, accepted ideas of the utopian model garden.

Picturing Eden is divided into four sections that reflect the artists’ perceptions about Eden: Paradise Lost, Paradise Reconstructed, Despairing of Paradise, and Paradise Anew.

Maggie Taylor (American, born 1961) Girl with a Bee Dress, 2004, inkjet print copyright Maggie Taylor courtesy George Eastman House

Picturing Eden artists are: Greta Anderson, Wayne Barrar, Jayne Hinds Bidaut, Binh Danh, Susan Derges, Ed Dimsdale, Ruud van Empel, Adam Fuss, Sally Gall, Lyle Gomes, Gavin Hipkins, Matthias Hoch, SimenJohan, IzimaKaoru, Michael Kenna, Mark Kessell, Sally Mann, Lori Nix, Han Nguyen, Michael Parekowhai, John Pfahl, J. John Priola, Michael Rauner, Liz Rideal David Robinson, Josephine Sacabo, Vincent Serbin, Jiří Šigut, Camille Solyagua, Alec Soth, Mike and Doug Starn, HongbinSun, Maggie Taylor, JoAnn Verburg, Terri Weifenbach, Jo Whaley, Masao Yamamoto

Camille Solyagua (American, born 1959) Wing Study #10, 1999, gelatin silver print copyright Camille Solyagua courtesy George Eastman House

Picturing Eden has been organized by George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film, under the direction of guest curator Deborah Klochko, Director of the Museum of Photographic Arts (MoPA) in California. George Eastman House gratefully acknowledges organizational support from the Comer Foundation; Mondriaan Stichting Foundation, Amsterdam; and Creative New Zealand.

Jo Whaley (American, born 1953) Harvest, The Fall, 1992, chromogenic print copyright Jo Whaley courtesy George Eastman House