ABOUT
Dualistic in imagery, concept and process, Julian Lucas's photographic practice explores subjects that evoke social commentary and recognition of the inevitability of nature, its beauty and decomposition. Lucas tends to photograph reality within all bodies of work, creating a personal context that is empathetic and engaging.
Julian Lucas’ photographic work sits between that hard and soft edge between fine art and photojournalism. His images are the result of a sophisticated naiveté, an experience matched with indomitable curiosity. His seductive and striking contrasts, lush effects challenge us to look at imagery that is often difficult to view. His focus is on traditional darkroom photography utilizing found spaces to create makeshift studios with a minimal of equipment - at times using only utility clamp work lights, or at other times, working outside, using only the high key sunlight and a backdrop, which all which mirrors reality.
Julian’s complex juxtapositions and visually perplexing images are social and cultural, public and private inquiries to identity and landscape. Their purpose is to present reality with a sophisticated naivete, reflecting the realities of the human body and the body's natural responses. Lucas uses methods as diverse as conventional photographic practices often showing evidence of humanizing.
Lucas has always been an agent for social change, even though in the beginnings it wasn’t a choice, but a condition of circumstance. Growing up in the skin of a young black man in the US, born on the south side of Chicago, he moved away at age seven and was raised in Southern California. He was often harassed by police, detained at gunpoint, or held at a curb, serving as an example to passersby and on-lookers. But introduced to photography as a high school student, photography became his lifetime practice. Along the way, he took jobs - lots of them - jobs both menial and service-oriented that informed his professional photographic work whether he was wearing the suit, workman’s clothes or a uniform. He parlayed his own experiences as a youth into working in foster care and residential facilities with minors - some who had mental health issues and all who were wards of the court system. He worked as a guard in a correctional institutions for more than a decade. He worked with autistic students as a behavioral interventionist. Currently, he works as a housing specialist/case manager within veteran services assisting unhoused veteran locate housing.
Additionally, Julian is a purveyor and collector of photobooks. In 2015, Julian co-founded Mirrored Society, a bookstore that focuses on photobooks from all over the world. Julian has since worked as a solo owner, continuing to curate titles from across the globe. In 2018, Julian founded Print Pomona Art Book Fair, a platform for independent photobook publishers and sellers, along with zine makers, which was set to open in the spring of 2020. PPABF, is a 501C3 Non Profit Sponsored by The Arts Area, the first of its kind and the largest book fair within the Pomona Valley Region. During the year of 2020 Julian created The Pomonan, which a digital platform that provides subjective journalism for creative writers, artists and innovative professionals. Mirrored Society Center for Photography, an initiative, and an extension of Mirrored Society Books, will focus on critical theories and practice of photography, in addition to gallery operation, management, and curatorial practice, MSCP will feature gallery representation for photographers.