PHOTO OP.

PHOTO OP. is a new curatorial platform for contemporary art in lens-based media with the kaupapa to support and promote local artists, and produce the kind of critical creative content we would like to see flourish.

PHOTO OP. is founded by artist, art writer, educator, gallery professional and artists’ consultant Emil McAvoy and will operate both online and in physical sites, the first a season of exhibitions in a gallery space within the Skar Image Lab premises in Kingsland, Tāmaki  Makaurau Auckland from mid to late 2022. 

PHOTO OP. will also produce other offsite projects, collaborations, partnerships and events.

Emil McAvoy is the founder and project curator. Exhibitions will be generated by invitation and collaboration. McAvoy’s new imprint will also publish exhibition catalogues and other supporting material in association with selected shows (also launched in 2022). 

Skar Image Lab is generously partnering with PHOTO OP. to host the first season of exhibitions and support them with professional photographic printing credits where appropriate and possible, alongside technical consultancy and other in-kind support.

We are seeking seed funding for the core operating costs to establish the platform. 

PHOTO OP. is a pilot project with scope to grow organically. It is founded primarily on a project space model whose playfully critical brand references photography's longstanding complicity in self-promotion.

We aim to offer genuine opportunities for innovative, relevant and responsive contemporary art in lens-based media to practitioners from Aotearoa and abroad. We have secured a strong, dynamic and diverse line up of artists for the first season.

We may also sell selected art work by negotiation if and where appropriate (and return a large portion of the proceeds to artists), however this is not what drives the kaupapa of the project.

But we need your support to make it happen! 

Any donation would be hugely appreciated.