Artist Biography
Waite's photographs explore the hidden narratives of objects and places. A mangled doll on the pavement; a man lighting a cigarette under the El; a fluorescent bulb elevated into the unrecognizable; the images point to an intrinsic order and symmetry that exists in all things, pulling us into the story of all that goes unnoticed. Waite, whose beginnings were as a painter and installation artist, has always used photography as a sort of sketchbook; however, in recent years the photographs have taken a co-role in his work. Waite studied fine art at SVA in New York City and lives and works in the East Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia.
Education
1999
School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
Major: Fine Art
1995
Brookdale College, Middletown, NJ
Publications
"Moving Portrait of a City: Under Philadelphia’s El Train", Lens Culture, March
"Everything is Narrative", Subjectively Objective, Detroit, MI
"Investigations in Infrastructure", Subjectively Objective, Detroit, MI
"Observations in the Ordinary", Subjectively Objective, Detroit, MI
Professional Experience
2015 - 2019
Photographer/Artist
Independent
2008 - 2015
Restorer/Designer
Independent Contractor
2004 - 2007
Space Aged Beef Productions
Owner
1998 - 2007
Space Framing
Owner
Selected Exhibitions
Solo
2018
Ronald William Waite: Photography, American Mortals, Philadelphia, PA
2017
On The Ground, Gravy Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2013
Ron Waite: Photographs,* Soup Kitchen Cafe, Philadelphia, PA
Group
2022
Everything is Narrative, Subjectively Objective, Detroit, MI
Investigations in Infrastructure, Subjectively Objective, Detroit, MI
2020
Observations in the Ordinary, Subjectively Objective, Detroit, MI
2018
Indian Photography Festival, State Art Gallery, Hyderabad, India
Feature Shoot Exhibition, Root Galleries, Brooklyn, NY
(No) Latency, Refraction Gallery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
2017
Feature Shoot Exhibition, Root Galleries, Brooklyn, NY
2016
The Philadelphia Photo Society: 150 Years of Light, The Plastic Club, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Photo Society, Dick Blick, Philadelphia, PA
The Portrait Reimagined, New Hope Arts Center, New Hope, PA
2011
Open studio exhibition, Globe Dye Works, Philadelphia, PA
2006
Ekphrasis: Photos and Text, Philadelphia, PA
Other
2016
Art for the Cash Poor, Crane Arts Building, Philadelphia, PA
Trenton Ave Arts Festival, Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA
2006
Open studio tour, Philadelphia, PA