Tom Kiefer is a photographer who uses his craft to document America. Based out of Arizona, the photographer’s work uses different landscapes and focuses on infrastructure, culture, and experimentation with color. Kiefer is very well known for his amazing work documenting the American backdrop. In 2015, he was named one of the top 50 emerging photographers, according to LenCulture.

Chapman’s Escalette Collection is honored to display Tom Kiefer’s work in our new exhibition,“The Border: An Interdisciplinary Examination.” This exhibition observes the discussion around borders from the perspective of the university. This exhibition will take place from May 2 to November 18, 2019.

The exhibit will display two of Kiefer’s works from his series El Sueño Americano (The American Dream). This series is an on-going body of work that came from Kiefer’s own experience as a janitor. Kiefer needed an income to support his career as a photographer, and so between 2003 and 2014, he worked as a custodian for the United States Customs and Border Patrol. During this time, he took photographs of confiscated items belonging to individuals who crossed the border. Items that were deemed either non-essential or potentially dangerous were discarded and thrown away by Border Patrol agents. The extended photographic essay includes over 100 photographs that document confiscated personal belongings. Kiefer was curious and disheartened from the things he would find searching through the trash. He would find things such as toys, food, clothing, etc. and used these items to construct striking photographs. The photographs in our collection document makeup found at the border.

 

2018.2.1

With Makeup 

Archival Pigmented Inkjet Print

The Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art

Purchased with Acquisition Funds

2018.2.2

Without Makeup

Archival Pigmented Inkjet Print

The Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art

Purchased with Acquisition Funds

 

His project expresses the influence that the border has on peoples’ day to day lives. The photographs display what migrants choose to bring with them when crossing the border. These everyday items are familiar to all Americans. Kiefer wanted to connect the viewer to those who cross the border.

 

“It was so heartbreaking. I couldn’t let those things remain in the trash.”- (Tom Kiefer, New York Times Interview, 2018).

 

This series is different from Kiefer’s usual landscape photographs and gives a new perspective to his work. He felt that this part of the immigration experience needed to be recorded. Kiefer tells the New York Times that he wants to document all aspects of American life. By photographing confiscated items at the border, he reveals aspects of suffering as well as hope from the immigrant experience. He brings a new level of humanity to those who cross the U.S. border.

 

“I wanted to photograph America.” (Tom Kiefer, New York Times Interview, 2018).

 

If you would like to learn more about Tom Kiefer’s work or view a three-part video series on El Sueño Americano (The American Dream), please visit his website at www.tomkiefer.com.