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Paul Caponigro

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Paul Caponigro
Born
Paul John Jerome Caponigro

(1932-12-07)December 7, 1932
DiedNovember 10, 2024(2024-11-10) (aged 91)
EducationBoston University
California School of Fine Arts
Occupation(s)Photographer, writer, pianist
Years active1950s–2024
Spouse
Eleanor Morris
(div. 1976)
ChildrenJohn Paul

Paul John Jerome Caponigro (December 7, 1932 – November 10, 2024) was an American photographer, writer and pianist. His best known photographs are Running White Deer and Galaxy Apple. His subject matter includes landscape and still life, taking an interest in natural forms. He was best known for his landscape works and for the mystical and spiritual qualities of his work.

In 2001, Caponigro was awarded the Royal Photographic Society's Centenary Medal and Honorary Fellowship (HonFRPS) in recognition of a sustained, significant contribution to the art of photography.[1] His work is held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art,[2] Museum of Fine Arts, Houston,[3] Museum of Modern Art, [4] and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.[5]

Early life

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Paul John Jerome Caponigro was born in Boston on December 7, 1932, to Italian immigrant parents, and started having interests in photography at age 13.[6] However, he also had a strong passion in music and began to study music at Boston University College of Music in 1950, before eventually deciding to focus on studying photography at the California School of Fine Arts.[7]

Photography career

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Caponigro studied with Minor White.[6] His first one-man exhibition took place at the George Eastman House in 1958. In the 1960s Caponigro taught photography part-time at Boston University while consulting for the Polaroid Corporation on various technical research.[citation needed] In 1971, his work was exhibited in the group exhibition Le Groupe Libre Expression : Expo 5, presented by Jean-Claude Gautrand, at the Rencontres d'Arles festival in Arles, France.[citation needed]

He died on November 10, 2024 at his home in Cushing, Maine from congestive heart failure at the age of 91.[8][6]

Personal life

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Caponigro lived in El Rancho de San Sebastian during his time in New Mexico from 1973 to 1993.[9] Caponigro was a dedicated pianist and considered his training with music to be essential to his photographic imagery.[10]

His son, John Paul Caponigro, is a digital photographic artist.[6] He was married to writer Eleanor Morris until their divorce in 1976.[6]

Books

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  • Landscape. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1975. ISBN 978-0-07-009780-3.
  • The Wise Silence. New York Graphic Society Books; Little, Brown, 1983. ISBN 978-0-8212-1548-7.
  • Megaliths. Boston: Little, Brown, 1986. ISBN 0-8212-1616-3.
  • New England Days. Portland Museum of Art, 2002. ISBN 978-1-56792-216-5.

Awards

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Collections

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Caponigro's work is held in the following permanent collections:

References

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  1. ^ a b "Error - RPS". www.rps.org.
  2. ^ a b "Results for "Paul Caponigro" - The Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  3. ^ a b "Works | Paul Caponigro | People | The MFAH Collections". mfah.org. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  4. ^ a b https://www.moma.org/artists/961
  5. ^ a b "Caponigro, Paul". SFMOMA. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Paul Caponigro, Photographer in Love with Nature, Dies at 91". The New York Times. November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  7. ^ "Paul Caponigro Artwork for Sale at Online Auction | Paul Caponigro Biography & Info". invaluable.com.
  8. ^ "In memoriam : Paul Caponigro (1932–2024)". L'œil De La Photographie. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Paul Caponigro". New Mexico Museum of Art. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Photographer Paul Caponigro Biography". www.photographywest.com.
  11. ^ a b "Paul Caponigro – John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation…". Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  12. ^ "Collection | Carnegie Museum of Art". carnegieart.org. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
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