david knox

In his current work, David Knox combines his photography with historic imagery, creating digital collages that depict untold and often mysterious stories from the 19th century American South.

“My interests lie in the flawed processes and alluring characters found in the daguerreotypes, tintypes, and albumen prints of early photography,” said the photographer, who divides his time between Atlanta and New Orleans.

“The poses, expressions, attire, landscapes and architecture are among the elements I digitally combine with my photography to create these mysterious stories.”

Artist: Born in Wichita, KS, Knox moved at an early age to Edmond, OK, where he grew up.

After attending Baylor University, where he received a BA in history, Knox moved to Atlanta to study at the Southeastern Center for the Arts and earned an AA in photography. In 2005, he completed his MFA at the San Francisco Art Institute.

Studio: Knox maintains studio space in his condos in Atlanta’s Midtown area and in the French Quarter in New Orleans.

“I love being able to do my collage work on my desktop from home,” said Knox. “It’s nice not having to travel out and also to be with my dog.”

Starting out: His interest in photography began as an adolescent. Knox began formal studies of the medium through classes at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, DC.

At the photography school in Atlanta, Knox began his career in commercial areas but later switched to photography as art, specializing in 19th century processes.

Knox began hosting biannual shows with his fellow studio mates and, through these shows, secured representation with a gallery in New Orleans, kicking off his career with fine art photography.

Art & materials: Large-scale digital photo collages that combine historic imagery with his photography of the American South

Each piece from the current Arcanian Parish and Portrait Collage series is a 30″ x 40″ aluminum print ($2,100). A limited edition of 12 pieces total will be printed in that size – each one signed and numbered.

Process:

Scans and photographs some of the historic elements he will use in the collages. Knox also finds material on the internet through sources such as the Library of Congress.
Final images are printed at commercial printers in a dye sublimation process on ChromaLuxe aluminum panels.

Must-have tools: A current Apple Desktop.

Inspirations:

European court paintings from the Middle Ages as well as early American folk art.
19th century photographic portraiture, including daguerreotypes, tintypes and albumen prints.
Portrait photography of the 20th century including fashion, occupational, editorial, street and documentary.
Artists include: Julia Margaret Cameron, Oscar Rejlander, Walker Evans, Mike Disfarmer, Irving Penn, William Eggleston, Richard Avedon, Sally Mann. Also Diego Velazquez, Andrew Wyeth and Bo Bartlett.

Commissions:

Photographed the tabby ruins on a private island off the coast of South Carolina for a 9 piece 3 over 3 series for a large home being built there.
A 9 piece 3 over 3 commission for a wall grid at a hunting lodge in South Georgia. The images were of trout, quail and a buck.

Awards:

Louisiana Contemporary Helis Foundation Art Prize Best in Show at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. 2018.
Fine Art Photographer of the Year by the International Photography Awards. 2019.
Gold Award at the Prix de la Photographie Paris in Paris, France in Fine Art/Collage for the series Tableaux Montage. 2024.
Silver award at the Prix de la Photographie Paris in Paris, France in Fine Art/Collage for the series Arcanian Parish. 2026.

Current project: Arcanian Parish series.

In the 19th century, private social clubs in the United States were strictly separated by gender.

The Arcanian Parish refers to a fictional Louisiana parish where men would gather to escape the burdens of their everyday lives, exploring friendship, love, business, nature, religion, death and the afterlife, according to Knox.

The term Arcanian, stemming from the Latin word arcana, means secret and/or hidden. It is often used in reference to the mysteries of nature and the spiritual world.

The pieces in Knox’s series, created from three centuries of photography, depict the untold stories of these men as they frequented the Arcanian Parishes of their own part of the 19th century American South

What’s next: “Meet the Artist” event at Fortunate Finds, a design, antique and art gallery in Tryon, NC. Dec. 5.

Where to buy: Artist website: Knoxphoto.com and galleries, including: