Meghann Riepenhoff's 'State Shift' Photographic Project Explores Climate Crisis Through Geological Sites

Meghann Riepenhoff's photographic endeavor, 'State Shift,' investigates the effects of human activity on landscapes through camera-less cyanotypes made during her displacement in 2024, following severe weather that damaged her residence. She documented notable sites, including Miami Beach, Florida, and the historically flooded town of Moncton, Washington, which was submerged in 1915. Additionally, Riepenhoff created works near the Hanford Site in Washington, recognized as the most toxic location in the U.S. Utilizing natural materials such as mushroom ink and algae pigment, she reflects on human environmental influence. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1979, she earned her BFA from the University of Georgia and an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. A Guggenheim Fellow in 2018, her artwork is part of collections at the National Gallery and Getty Museum.