Aric Attas, MFA
{Commercial Photographer}
{Artist}
{Educator}
Attas was raised in West Hartford, Connecticut spending his summers at the beach in nearby Old Lyme. His fascination with photography began at the age of 12 while taking a summer school class at the local high school. Watching his first print emerge from the developer under the amber glow of the darkroom safelight proved to be the decisive moment. He has been chasing light with a sense of curiosity and wonder ever since.
After studying Psychology and Art at Hobart College Attas began his career in commercial photography by moving to Chicago. There he assisted photographers and honed his craft on shoots for clients such as Architectural Digest, Hyatt Hotels and Crate & Barrel before opening his own studio. Over the past 30 years Attas has worked as a professional photographer shooting architecture, product and food for national and international clients. His work has appeared globally and has been featured in many publications including Four Seasons and Luxe magazines.
In 1996 Attas earned his MFA in Photography at the Hartford Art School. It was while he was in graduate school that Attas discovered his creative vision under mentors Ellen Carey and Bob Chaplin. Describing his fine art Attas says “I use light and sound to engage the mysteries of the universe. Informed by ancient spirituality and modern science my work is an exploration of the secrets that lie beyond the veil of perception. This pursuit of curiosity results in works that radiate a sense of wonder and connection to the cosmos.”
His fine art photography has been recognized as highly original challenging our existing notions of the photograph. Attas is the recipient of numerous awards from such significant critics and artists as Andy Grundberg, Merry A. Foresta and the Starn Twins. His critically acclaimed experimental works include a series of performances, Ions in the Ether, in which photographically etched zinc plates were dissolved in acid while effectively copper plating their negatives in a reaction reminiscent of the alchemists and their desire to turn simple elements into gold. Attas continues to exhibit his work regularly pushing the boundaries of his creativity through the mediums of photography, video and sound.
Attas also maintains the active teaching practice he began in graduate school by teaching classes in photography, Photoshop and creativity at Rutgers University in Newark, NJ and the Vero Beach Museum of Art in Vero Beach, FL and as a guest critic for the Yellow Chair Salon in Brooklyn, NY. He also mentors private students from around the world. Recently Attas was a featured artist/teacher on Ovation TV’s art & culture program American Canvas.
Currently Attas lives in Vero Beach, Florida where he is the owner of Aric Attas {Creative}. In addition to his commercial photography, fine art and teaching practices Attas stays busy raising a family, facilitating a weekly meditation group and walking his dog Macchiato.
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” – Albert Einstein
Selected Client List
21st Street TapHouse
Art Institute of Chicago
Banov Architects
BBH Design Studio
Blue Agave Mexican Bar & Tequileria
Melanie Bock Studios
Brain Freeze Cafe
Brooks Limited
Ellen Carey
Chicago Magazine
COOP
Croom Construction
L. K. DeFrances & Associates
Elliman Magazine
Featherstone Young Architects
Thom Filicia
Florida Design Magazine
Four Seasons Magazine
David Francis Furniture
Girard Equipment
HOOS | DAVIS ARCHITECTURE
Houghton-Mifflin
Huryn Construction
Impact 100
Intrinsic Designs
Ironside Press
Island Interiors at Ocean Reef
Jill Shevlin Design
Joseloff Gallery
Libby Langdon Interiors
Frank J. Lincoln Interior Design
Living Pattern – Hand Adorned Wallcovering
Luxe. Interiors + Design
M. Maison
Modern Relik
Moor & Associates Architects
Nino’s Cafe
Norris & Company Real Estate
Ovation TV
Palm Beach Illustrated
Pivot Design
JPrice Designs
RCL Development
Reef Ocean Resort
Samuel Construction Group
Sea Glass Boutique
Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club
Clemens Bruns Schaub & The Associates Studio
Three Communication Design
Stanley Tigerman, Architect
Treasure Coast Sotheby’s International Realty
United Against Poverty
Urban Artifacts
Vero Home, Life and Design Magazine
Dawn Wallace Designs, Inc.
Windsor
World Book Encyclopedia, Inc.
Photo Credit: Phil Reid