Aidan Avery Explores Masculinity and Violence in 'Under Punches'
Photographer Aidan Avery discusses his ongoing series 'Under Punches,' which examines masculinity and violence through portraits of young men in the United States. Avery, who works at the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson and teaches at Chandler-Gilbert Community College and Phoenix Community College, began the project after his brother Collier took up boxing. The series uses formal portraiture to capture softness and humanity, moving beyond athletic depictions. Avery also runs 'The Open Call List,' a Substack newsletter that compiles photography opportunities, grants, and resources, offered on a sliding scale to increase accessibility. He emphasizes cumulative career growth over singular breakthroughs and plans to interview mid-career photographers about their paths.
Key facts
- Aidan Avery's series 'Under Punches' considers violence and masculinity through portraits of young men in the U.S.
- Avery works at the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, Arizona, and teaches at Chandler-Gilbert Community College and Phoenix Community College.
- The project was sparked by his brother Collier's involvement in boxing.
- Avery switched from documenting fights to formal portraiture to capture personality and humanity.
- He describes the aesthetic as 'softer' and 'verging on feminine.'
- Avery runs 'The Open Call List,' a weekly Substack newsletter sharing photography opportunities, grants, and resources.
- The newsletter is offered on a sliding scale, including free subscriptions, to improve accessibility.
- Avery plans to interview successful photographers about their career paths from emerging to mid-career.
Entities
Artists
- Aidan Avery
- Collier Avery
Institutions
- Center for Creative Photography
- Chandler-Gilbert Community College
- Phoenix Community College
- Lenscratch
- Substack
Locations
- Tucson
- Arizona
- United States