Shaped by his Alabama roots, Atlanta-based photographer Jerry Siegel uses his camera to tell stories of the ever-changing South through its landscapes, culture and people.
Artist: Born and raised in Selma, Siegel attended the University of South Alabama in Mobile and later graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta. He worked for five years with photographer and mentor Arington Hendley.
In 1986, Siegel opened his own photography studio. As an advertising and corporate photographer, Siegel’s clients included Coca-Cola, BellSouth, Gold Kist, Boys & Girls Clubs. He also worked as the Atlanta Hawks team photographer for 15 years, adding that he loves NBA basketball.
Nearly 20 years later, the Alabama native started to turn his focus to more personal projects that resonated with him, but continues to do commercial work.
All in the family: He follows in the footsteps of his namesake uncle (Jerry Siegel) who owned an art gallery in Selma.
Company & studio: Jerry Siegel Studio started in Atlanta in 1986.
While much of his photography work is now on location, Siegel spent years shooting product photos in his studio, now located in the Urban Art Collective in Chamblee in metro Atlanta.
In the beginning: Asked for a camera on his 19th birthday. Shortly after receiving it, Siegel signed up for a night class, where he was shown the work of American photographer Diane Arbus and started shooting portraits on the streets.
“It was an important turning point for me,” said Siegel.
Art: Documentary and portrait photography in color as well as black and white. Fine art prints ($1,200 to $6,000).
A big part of Siegel’s documentary work is in the Black Belt region of Alabama, where his hometown, Selma, is the heart.
“I am a strong believer in place, and how a region, community and a home will shape who you are,” said Siegel, who still maintains the family home and returns often to document the story of a region where past and present converge.
Color or black and white: Both, depending on the need or feel, if the image calls for it.
- Color: “I was always a black and white photographer,” said Siegel. “When I switched to digital, my eye changed. I love color for most work.”
- Black and white: “Black and white is more timeless,” said Siegel, adding that it is hard to put a timestamp on it. “I love black and white but my eye right now has shifted to color.” Most of his Southern Black Belt work is color.
Books:
- “Facing South: Portraits of Southern Artists” (2012) features portraits of 100 Southern artists who Siegel has been photographing for more than eight years. This body of work has been featured in six solo museum exhibitions in Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana.
- “Black Belt Color” (2017) focuses on documenting the unique cultural landscape of the South, concentrating on the Black Belt region of Alabama.
- “At This Moment: Portraits of South Carolina Artists.” The book ($36) was commissioned by the Greenville County Museum of Art and includes 78 South Carolina artists. It is available in the museum’s shop.
Different body of work: “Reveal” in 2023 at the LSU Museum in Baton Rouge, LA. The photo exhibit explored the identity of the drag artist community in Atlanta.
Watch:
- https://vimeo.com/286348065?fl=pl&fe=vl . A Southbound project that includes photographs of and about the New South by 55 artists.
Favorite or must-have tools:
- Fuji GFX 50R right now. Used to shoot with Leica, Hasselblad and 8×10 Deardorff.
- 2025 Subaru to replace his 2010 Subaru with 270,003 miles on it.
Inspirations: Diane Arbus, Roy DeCarava, Philippe Halsman, George Dureau and Henri Cartier-Bresson (and his book, “Tete-A-Tete,” portraits of late 20th century icons).
Honors: Featured in solo exhibitions and permanent collections at institutions, including the High Museum of Art, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, MOCA GA and Virginia Museum of Fine Art.
Current exhibit: “At This Moment: Portraits of South Carolina Artists” at the Greenville County Museum of Art. Through Feb. 22. The exhibition includes 78 South Carolina artists, including Jasper Johns, Shepard Fairey and Mary Jackson, a Gullah artist known for her sweetgrass baskets.
What’s next: Exhibition at Paul R. Jones Museum in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Fall 2026.
Where to buy: Spalding Nix Fine Art, Atlanta.
“Our gallery has represented Jerry Siegel since 2017,” said Nix, who specializes in contemporary art by Southern artists. “Our first show together focused on his work of the Alabama Black Belt, a crescent-shaped region in central Alabama known for its dark, fertile soil, historically crucial for cotton plantations and slavery — and later, a heartland for the Civil Rights Movement.”
“I like Jerry’s photographs because they are intensely personal,” said Nix. “He photographs his subjects with care and empathy, always looking for a common connection between his subject, the artist and the viewer.”
Connect:
- Instagram: @jerrysiegel
- Website: jerrysiegel.com
