Craig Varjabedian

• Born — 26 September 1957 • Birthplace — Windsor, Ontario

Craig studied with the late Phil Davis at the University of Michigan and Paul Caponigro in Santa Fe. He received a BFA in Fine Arts from the University of Michigan, and an MFA in Photography from the Rochester Institute of Technology (notable alumni of Rochester Institute of Technology. Craig's first major one-person exhibition was at the Albuquerque Museum in 1994. Since that time he has been widely exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the United States and has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation and the McCune Charitable Foundation. He is the author of twelve books. His seven-year project documenting the moradas of the Penitente Brotherhood in New Mexico is archived at the DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. His current project, the Native Light Collaboration, is a collaborative portrait project celebrating the lives and cultures of Native Americans. Throughout the American West, Varjabedian chronicles the personal identities of Native Americans – illuminating their individuality, culture, and resilience through authentic photographic portraits. He is also the Director of The Eloquent Light Photography Workshops in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Offering workshops since 1986, offers private and small-group photography workshops featuring unique people and inspiring places found off the beaten path. In the words of noted photography historian Beaumont Newhall, "The remarkable photographs by Craig Varjabedian are not only beautiful but also extremely valuable documents of architecture, culture, and lifestyle of Northern New Mexico. His work is extremely valuable from both artistic and historical viewpoints."