A lot of photographers distinguish between their commercial work and their fine-art photos. David Drebin is not one of those photographers. To him, the term “fine-art photography” is pretentious. He prefers “art business” or “art world,” and we’re inclined to let him call it what he wants to, considering that he’s represented by six galleries worldwide and has sold more than 250 photographs in the last three years, including “Movie Star,” which commanded $16,250 at Phillips De Pury’s photographs auction in April. “It’s been unbelievable in the art business all over the world, from Kiev to Cleveland,” says Drebin, sounding characteristically breathless. Here, Drebin shares his thoughts on his success in the fine-art business and on whether his work will soon be coming to a gallery near you.
You recently shot a series of landscapes in the icy Berlin winter that are now on offer at artnet.com and through dealers worldwide. Tell me about the project and why it appealed to you.
I have a gallery in Berlin. I do landscapes all over the world, from Berlin to Rio to Hong Kong to Tahiti. When I shoot landscapes, I like creating feelings. I dream of far-off destinations, and I go there I make the pictures. Then I come back to New York and dream of those places again.
Any exhibitions coming up?
I’m having an exhibition in the Ukraine, in Kiev, at the Brucie Collections gallery. [For more information, go here]
You opened a store at your website, daviddrebin.com, that features limited-edition box-set portfolios of your work. Each of the sets has its own theme, like “Dreamscapes,” “Hollywood Blvd,” and “Beautiful Disasters,” a collection of C-prints that explores the “running, screaming, wild, crazy, fascinating, fun, genius women” who have inspired various songs, novels, and famous works of art. What motivated you to create these books?
I wanted to make portfolios of my work knowing that my editions would sell out, because a lot of my photographs are already sold out in the editions. It’s hard to admit, but I’m doing this for later and not for now-it’s a way to corporatize my work. I’m already working on my next book, which is gonna be a combination of high heels and landscapes.
How did it feel when “Movie Star” sold for $16,250?
I never pat myself on the back. I worked as a waiter for many years, and I hated it. Whenever I make any money as a photographer, it means I can work as a photographer for that much longer and not as a waiter.