ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Post-Photography Critiques Magical Thinking in Contemporary Economics Through Digital Manipulation

publication · 2026-04-06

Post-photography, as defined by Robert Shore in his 2014 book 'Post-Photography: The Artist with a Camera,' involves contemporary practices using found images from platforms like Flickr, Instagram, and Facebook, along with digital tools like Photoshop. This approach aligns with a 'magical-thinking contemporary economy,' where value shifts from tangible materials to abstract concepts. Charlotte Cotton's 2015 book 'Photography is Magic' describes manipulated digital photography as 'close-up magic.' Artists like Erik Kessels, Anne De Vries, and Eileen Quinlan exemplify these practices. Kessels's '24 HRS in Photos' was shown at Pier 24 Photography in 2013. Prévieux discussed police statistics in June 2016's 'Objektiv.' Post-photography critiques economic abstraction, reflecting Ingrid Hoelzl's 'softimage.'

Key facts

  • Post-photography uses found images from social media platforms and digital manipulation tools like Photoshop.
  • Robert Shore defined post-photography in his 2014 book 'Post-Photography: The Artist with a Camera.'
  • Charlotte Cotton's 2015 book 'Photography is Magic' compares manipulated digital photography to 'close-up magic.'
  • Erik Kessels exhibited '24 HRS in Photos' at Pier 24 Photography in San Francisco in 2013.
  • Julien Prévieux discussed deconstructing police statistics in the June 2016 issue of 'Objektiv' magazine.
  • Artists mentioned include Anne De Vries, Lucas Blalock, Rhonda Holberton, Walead Beshty, and Eileen Quinlan.
  • The author links post-photography to a 'magical-thinking contemporary economy' of abstract value creation.
  • The analysis references Arthur C. Clarke's quote that advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Pier 24 Photography
  • Ramiken Crucible
  • CULT Exhibitions
  • Wallspace
  • Galerie Philippe Jousse
  • Cheyney Thompson Studios
  • Aperture Foundation
  • Objektiv
  • SFAQ & NYAQ Publications
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

Locations

  • San Francisco
  • United States
  • New York
  • Annandale-On-Hudson
  • Paris
  • France

Sources