I’m interested in the boundary between public and private spaces, hidden histories, memory and intimacy. I work in series, which sometimes consist of hundreds of images. I often depict commercially produced items – printed matter, tools. Many series involve words and writing. I live in San Francisco.
C.V.
Group shows
2023 Paper Weight (from Households) in "More Is More," Hot House Gallery, San Francisco
2016 Fire (from Reverse Interpreting Practise) in "Postcards from the Edge," Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York City
2016 Lean in "In Celebration of Trees," Photo Place Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont
2016 Tap (from Reverse Interpreting Practise) in Annual Members' Show, Manhattan Graphics Center, New York City
2015 Stop the War On in "Heads Will Roll," Artspace, New Haven, Connecticut
2015 Running in "Elemental," Flow Art Space, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2013–2015 1982, My Mom in "Early Works Project," Photographic Resource Center, Boston; Sol Mednick Gallery, Philadelphia; Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, Colorado; Rayko Photo Center, San Francisco; and Newspace Center for Photography, Portland
2014 Arch and Parked in "Women in the Heights," Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance Gallery, New York City
2012 The full series Equity and the full series Making Room in "Illuminations," Krowswork Gallery, Oakland
2011 The full series Making Room in "Sound and Vision," St John's Church, San Francisco
2010 Vantaa, Photoworks, San Francisco
Distinctions
2022 Untitled drawings as cover of the album Homage/Disruption, Denny Berthiaume
2016 Djurgården as cover of the album Memories, Denny Berthiaume
2016 Curated art and photojournalism for social media, Office of the Mayor, City of New York
2015 Participated in Uptown Art Stroll's open studios, New York City
2014 Will-Call as cover of the album Calling You, Catherine Seidel and Denny Berthiaume
2011 Spoke at San Francisco Camerawork
2011 Making Room became subject of international media blitz (see below)
2011 Named curator and creative director, Photoworks no. 4
Publications
2019 "Paper Weight" (from Households) in Above the Bridge: An Anthology
2016 House (from Reverse Interpreting Practise) in The Hand Magazine
2016 The series Households featured in Else: the Journal of International Art, Literature, Theory and Creative Media (Germany)
2015 The full series Equity featured in Boaat 4
2011 Backseat, Photoworks no. 5
2011 Galley, Photoworks no. 3
2010 A2, Photoworks no. 2
2010 Vantaa, Photoworks no. 1
Performances + readings
2018 Read "Gyroscope" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2018 Read "Pill Cutter" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2018 Read "Tiara" and "Coffee Tin" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2018 Read "Ice Skate" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2017 Read "Finial" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2017 Read "Telephone Cord" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Book End" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Typewriter Ball" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read the backstory to Iron Mountain at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Roladex" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Compass" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Eraser" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2015 Read "Paper Weight" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2015 Performed Visit: What I Saw at Above the Bridge, New York City
2015 Read "Record Album" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
Pro bono
2015 Photographer, New York City Office of Emergency Management
2012–2013 Mentor, First Exposures, San Francisco
2012 Photographer, Rebuilding Together, San Francisco
Continuing education
2014 Photopolymer intaglio printmaking, Lower East Side Printshop, New York City
2009 Large format photography, Rayko Photo Center, San Francisco
Solo shows
2011 Actual Café, Oakland
2011 Hôtel Biron, San Francisco
2011 Ritual, San Francisco
2011 Ensoma, San Francisco
Education
PhD, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom
MA, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom
2023 Paper Weight (from Households) in "More Is More," Hot House Gallery, San Francisco
2016 Fire (from Reverse Interpreting Practise) in "Postcards from the Edge," Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York City
2016 Lean in "In Celebration of Trees," Photo Place Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont
2016 Tap (from Reverse Interpreting Practise) in Annual Members' Show, Manhattan Graphics Center, New York City
2015 Stop the War On in "Heads Will Roll," Artspace, New Haven, Connecticut
2015 Running in "Elemental," Flow Art Space, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2013–2015 1982, My Mom in "Early Works Project," Photographic Resource Center, Boston; Sol Mednick Gallery, Philadelphia; Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, Colorado; Rayko Photo Center, San Francisco; and Newspace Center for Photography, Portland
2014 Arch and Parked in "Women in the Heights," Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance Gallery, New York City
2012 The full series Equity and the full series Making Room in "Illuminations," Krowswork Gallery, Oakland
2011 The full series Making Room in "Sound and Vision," St John's Church, San Francisco
2010 Vantaa, Photoworks, San Francisco
Distinctions
2022 Untitled drawings as cover of the album Homage/Disruption, Denny Berthiaume
2016 Djurgården as cover of the album Memories, Denny Berthiaume
2016 Curated art and photojournalism for social media, Office of the Mayor, City of New York
2015 Participated in Uptown Art Stroll's open studios, New York City
2014 Will-Call as cover of the album Calling You, Catherine Seidel and Denny Berthiaume
2011 Spoke at San Francisco Camerawork
2011 Making Room became subject of international media blitz (see below)
2011 Named curator and creative director, Photoworks no. 4
Publications
2019 "Paper Weight" (from Households) in Above the Bridge: An Anthology
2016 House (from Reverse Interpreting Practise) in The Hand Magazine
2016 The series Households featured in Else: the Journal of International Art, Literature, Theory and Creative Media (Germany)
2015 The full series Equity featured in Boaat 4
2011 Backseat, Photoworks no. 5
2011 Galley, Photoworks no. 3
2010 A2, Photoworks no. 2
2010 Vantaa, Photoworks no. 1
Performances + readings
2018 Read "Gyroscope" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2018 Read "Pill Cutter" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2018 Read "Tiara" and "Coffee Tin" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2018 Read "Ice Skate" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2017 Read "Finial" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2017 Read "Telephone Cord" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Book End" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Typewriter Ball" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read the backstory to Iron Mountain at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Roladex" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Compass" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Eraser" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2015 Read "Paper Weight" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2015 Performed Visit: What I Saw at Above the Bridge, New York City
2015 Read "Record Album" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
Pro bono
2015 Photographer, New York City Office of Emergency Management
2012–2013 Mentor, First Exposures, San Francisco
2012 Photographer, Rebuilding Together, San Francisco
Continuing education
2014 Photopolymer intaglio printmaking, Lower East Side Printshop, New York City
2009 Large format photography, Rayko Photo Center, San Francisco
Solo shows
2011 Actual Café, Oakland
2011 Hôtel Biron, San Francisco
2011 Ritual, San Francisco
2011 Ensoma, San Francisco
Education
PhD, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom
MA, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom
//
Press mentions
"April Oakland Art Murmur" Art Enthusiast, April 11, 2012
"Artist has work removed from Ritual Coffee Roasters, deemed too 'serious'" Rangefinder Forum, June 28, 2011
"Cafe Criticized for Removing Art Deemed 'Too Serious'" Daily Coffee News, July 7, 2011
"Ritual Coffee Hates 'Serious' Art?" Snapandgo, June 27, 2011
"Ritual Coffee Owner Not a Fan of Art That’s Sad" The Wall Street Journal, June 28, 2011
"Your Photography Is Too Serious for This Cool Café" Photoworks San Francisco, June 28, 2011
Barman, Jay, "Ritual Coffee Owner Not a Fan of Art That’s Sad" Grub Street, June 28, 2011
Bennett, Denise, "Controversy in Local and Regional Art," Artlarking, July 18, 2011
Bigman, Alex, "Four Fab Art Gallery Openings" 7X7, March 21, 2012
Brenner, Lisa, "Week Around the Ists" July 3, 2011
Chavez, Lydia, "Ritual Asks Artist to Remove Work — What Would You Do?" Mission Local, June 28, 2011
Donohue, Caitlin, "Ritual Coffee puts a bird on it" San Francisco Bay Guardian, June 30, 2011
Feeney, Mark, "At the PRC, Getting a Head Start Behind the Camera" Boston Globe, January 29, 2015
Hawk, Thomas, "Ritual Coffee Roasters Owner Eileen Hassi Pulls Artist’s Work from Display?" Thomas Hawk's Digital Connection, June 27, 2011
Hintz-Zambrano, Katie, "Five things to know this AM," Refinery 29, June 28, 2011
Hough, Allan, "Ritual Roasters and the art of banning art," Mission Mission, June 28, 2011
Ireland, Liz, "Eat the Week: Off the Grid’s Birthday, Fresh & Easy Hits SF, BreastFest Returns, Art Deemed Too Serious For Ritual, Bowling Alley Fever" Poor Taste San Francisco, July 1, 2011
Keeling, Brock, "Deemed 'Too Serious,' Ritual Coffee Bans Artist's Work" SFist, June 27, 2011
Kuchar, Sally, "Ritual Coffee Bans Artist's Work; How Not To Sell a House; Bikes and Business in Oakland; More!" Curbed SF, June 28, 2011 [reposted from SFist]
Pearce, Rocio Russo, "Photographer banned at local coffee shop" Rocio Russo June 28, 2011
Perez, Cassie and Jenna Paul-Schultz, "It May Be Art, But Does It Go With Coffee?" Mission Local, June 28, 2011
Sikora, Kim, "Varese Layzer's Exploration of Loss" Dickerman Prints, April 27, 2012
Sinclair, Llewellyn, "Come On, Eileen: Ritual Owner Removes Challenging Art Show" Sprudge, July 3, 2011
Sitar, Dana, "Art Displaying Grief 'Too Serious' for SF Cafe" Seven Ponds, July 3, 2011
Sitar, Dana, "Controversial Art Finds a Home in the East Bay" Seven Ponds, April 1, 2012
Smith, Heather, "It May Be Art, But Does it Go Well With Coffee?" The Mission Blog at the San Francisco Chronicle, June 28, 2011
Tedford, Matthew Harrison, "Latte Art: A Manifesto" Poor Taste Magazine, July 20th, 2011
Wadding, Chris "Deemed 'Too Serious,' Ritual Coffee Bans Artist's Work" D10 Watch, June 28, 2011
Wright, Andy, "The Great Fluffy Debate: What Kind of Art Belongs in Coffee Shops?" The Bay Citizen, July 7, 2011
Wright, Andy, "Art Deemed 'Too Serious' for Ritual Coffee to Display at Church" The Bay Citizen, July 22, 2011
"Artist has work removed from Ritual Coffee Roasters, deemed too 'serious'" Rangefinder Forum, June 28, 2011
"Cafe Criticized for Removing Art Deemed 'Too Serious'" Daily Coffee News, July 7, 2011
"Ritual Coffee Hates 'Serious' Art?" Snapandgo, June 27, 2011
"Ritual Coffee Owner Not a Fan of Art That’s Sad" The Wall Street Journal, June 28, 2011
"Your Photography Is Too Serious for This Cool Café" Photoworks San Francisco, June 28, 2011
Barman, Jay, "Ritual Coffee Owner Not a Fan of Art That’s Sad" Grub Street, June 28, 2011
Bennett, Denise, "Controversy in Local and Regional Art," Artlarking, July 18, 2011
Bigman, Alex, "Four Fab Art Gallery Openings" 7X7, March 21, 2012
Brenner, Lisa, "Week Around the Ists" July 3, 2011
Chavez, Lydia, "Ritual Asks Artist to Remove Work — What Would You Do?" Mission Local, June 28, 2011
Donohue, Caitlin, "Ritual Coffee puts a bird on it" San Francisco Bay Guardian, June 30, 2011
Feeney, Mark, "At the PRC, Getting a Head Start Behind the Camera" Boston Globe, January 29, 2015
Hawk, Thomas, "Ritual Coffee Roasters Owner Eileen Hassi Pulls Artist’s Work from Display?" Thomas Hawk's Digital Connection, June 27, 2011
Hintz-Zambrano, Katie, "Five things to know this AM," Refinery 29, June 28, 2011
Hough, Allan, "Ritual Roasters and the art of banning art," Mission Mission, June 28, 2011
Ireland, Liz, "Eat the Week: Off the Grid’s Birthday, Fresh & Easy Hits SF, BreastFest Returns, Art Deemed Too Serious For Ritual, Bowling Alley Fever" Poor Taste San Francisco, July 1, 2011
Keeling, Brock, "Deemed 'Too Serious,' Ritual Coffee Bans Artist's Work" SFist, June 27, 2011
Kuchar, Sally, "Ritual Coffee Bans Artist's Work; How Not To Sell a House; Bikes and Business in Oakland; More!" Curbed SF, June 28, 2011 [reposted from SFist]
Pearce, Rocio Russo, "Photographer banned at local coffee shop" Rocio Russo June 28, 2011
Perez, Cassie and Jenna Paul-Schultz, "It May Be Art, But Does It Go With Coffee?" Mission Local, June 28, 2011
Sikora, Kim, "Varese Layzer's Exploration of Loss" Dickerman Prints, April 27, 2012
Sinclair, Llewellyn, "Come On, Eileen: Ritual Owner Removes Challenging Art Show" Sprudge, July 3, 2011
Sitar, Dana, "Art Displaying Grief 'Too Serious' for SF Cafe" Seven Ponds, July 3, 2011
Sitar, Dana, "Controversial Art Finds a Home in the East Bay" Seven Ponds, April 1, 2012
Smith, Heather, "It May Be Art, But Does it Go Well With Coffee?" The Mission Blog at the San Francisco Chronicle, June 28, 2011
Tedford, Matthew Harrison, "Latte Art: A Manifesto" Poor Taste Magazine, July 20th, 2011
Wadding, Chris "Deemed 'Too Serious,' Ritual Coffee Bans Artist's Work" D10 Watch, June 28, 2011
Wright, Andy, "The Great Fluffy Debate: What Kind of Art Belongs in Coffee Shops?" The Bay Citizen, July 7, 2011
Wright, Andy, "Art Deemed 'Too Serious' for Ritual Coffee to Display at Church" The Bay Citizen, July 22, 2011
//
Testimonies
"Your photos are a moving, artistic documentary of the pain and beauty of transition – looking back without a reassuring window on the future. You have singled out so effectively select portions of space, object, and evoked experience."
"Your work is strong and personal and authentic."
"I love your photographs; they are somewhat sad, but they are beautiful and somehow organic, both in the presence and in the dissolution of a life lived. They especially resonate with me as I have been taking photos of the disintegration of my family's farm for some years. I would love to see more of your work."
"I was taken by the beauty and power of the images."
"Your work is strong and personal and authentic."
"I love your photographs; they are somewhat sad, but they are beautiful and somehow organic, both in the presence and in the dissolution of a life lived. They especially resonate with me as I have been taking photos of the disintegration of my family's farm for some years. I would love to see more of your work."
"I was taken by the beauty and power of the images."
"I stopped for quite a long time to look at your work and was really struck by it, thinking about my past, memory, history, etc. I ended up having a dream where several of your images figured in."
"Case evokes a whole world of 20th-century Proustian memory – those photos, that suitcase, just are the unrecoverable time of parents and grandparents. (It reminds me also of W.G. Sebald's writing, whose meditations on memory, imagination, and re-collection might fit your work.) Pastorale gave me the immediate sense that I wanted it on my wall: there are centuries of experience slipped into that photo."
"Your pictures alone are stunning (right up my alley, as I love light, forms, and color). Before I even read the statement, I definitely could feel a sense of loss and memory in your photos. They're truly fantastic. But coupled with the statement, I think your work is quite amazing and tells a sad but inevitable story. I'm so glad you got to share it for a brief moment."
"What you are producing is powerful, real, and immensely beautiful."
"The photo of the piano – the way it is underexposed – really caught my attention. The subtle tones encourage a closer look. The piano is a symbol for so many things: childhood, joy of music and, for some, escape. What I took from that single photograph is the sound of music, or lack thereof. Your photograph asks your viewer many questions."
"The images are simply beautiful and haunting and how anyone cannot see that they are an affirmation of life is beyond me."
"Your 'banned' photo essay moved me very much. I lost both my parents in recent years, and had to do a smaller-scale version of your cleanout of their apartment. Your images evoked those feelings again: the memories inherent in commonplace objects, the empty spaces where life was once lived."
"I'm so grateful to see your work and know there are others who have been through similar weighty tasks and made something from it."
"The work is beautiful and is real life. It is okay to feel, and it is okay for public places to express some real emotion. In fact, it is about time."
"How sad to deprive coffee drinkers the opportunity to engage with quality art about a subject that matters, art that isn't the 'usual fluff,' art that is subtly saturated with the poignant presence of loss."