It’s impossible not to feel unsettled when you experience the work of Denver-based artist, Kristen Hatgi.
In her provocative wet plate-based series, she brings both a starkness and a softness that is difficult to achieve in photography. Her subjects appear at once both rough and round…and they all seem to want something from their viewer.
Absent a comforting fourth wall, her subjects are thrust to the forefront, making it impossible to look away. Instead, we meet their gaze–even when it starts to feel uncomfortable–and by doing so, agree to offer them some relief.
Beyond wet plate, Hatgi also works in both film and digital mediums. She loves beautiful minds, faces, and bodies, often making pictures with flowers and glitter.
Hatgi received her BFA from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University in 2008. Her work has been exhibited in New York, Boston, Washington DC, Kochi Japan, Canada, and Denver.
Featured above is a wet plate compilation slideshow she worked on with her husband, Mark Sink.