Los Angeles-based Elizabeth Waterman is an American fine art photographer. A through line in her distinctive body of work is the depiction of the ongoing metamorphosis of artists and performers of many genres. Her singular images explore female sexuality, sex work, obsessions, and portraits of artists. Waterman’s style has been called both transcendent and transformative. It is also elegantly composed, and infused with directness and authenticity.
Currently, Waterman is exhibiting images from her sold out 2021 book, MONEYGAME, published by XYZ (Lisbon, Portugal). The coffee-table volume features color and black & white photographs from Waterman’s five-year foray into the stripper and sex work industry, and her editorial text. The images were shot in New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Miami.
Waterman also has an extensive commercial and editorial portfolio. Her photographs have been featured in shows at the old Limelight Church/Jue Lan Club (NYC), Wallplay (NYC), and Olson-Irwin (Sydney), auctioned on Artnet.com, and showcased on L’Oeil de La Photographie.com. Her commercial clients include MS Magazine and fashion designers Elie Tahari and Marc Jacobs.Born in Taos, New Mexico, Waterman holds a B.A. in Fine Art from the University of Southern California.
EDUCATION
2007 University of Southern California
EXHIBITIONS
2023 MONEYGAME, Anderson Yezerski Gallery, Boston, MA
Gorgeous Drag, Albumen Gallery, Photo London
2022 MONEYGAME, Boogie-Wall Gallery, London
2018 State of the World, Espace Beaurepaire, Paris, curated by Hossein Farmani
2016 The New Vintage, Show with Marcia Resnick, Jue Lan Club/Limelight Church, New York City, NY
2015 The Gruin Transfer, Group Show, Salomon Arts Gallery, New York City, NY
2014 The Dash, Group Show, Soma Studio, Sydney, Australia
2013 The New God, Solo Show, Wallplay, New York City, NY
Who Shot Natalie White, Group Show, ROX Gallery, New York City, NY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
– Los Angeles Times, “Two strip-club art photographers compare notes on race, region and what makes a good shot” June 2023
– Whitehot Magazine, “Elizabeth Waterman: Gorgeous Drag” by Anthony Haden-Guest” June 2023
– Los Angeles Times, “How a fine-art photographer recast the lives of exotic dancers through a female gaze,” November 2021
– LA Weekly, “Meet Photographer Elizabeth Waterman,” July 2021
– British Journal of Photography, “Dark Angels: Illuminating the beauty and athleticism of strippers,” October 2020
– Index.hu, “Hundreds of girls are working and changing hands for thousands of dollars,” April 2020.
– L’Oeil de La Photographie, “Elizabeth Waterman’s Dark Angels,” June 2017
– The Huffington Post, “Art With a Dose of Philosophy From the Millennial Generation,” October 15, 2013
AWARDS
– British Journal of Photography, Portrait of Humanity Book, Publication, May 2019
– Prix de la Photographie (PX3) 2018; Gold Winner in the Documentary Category, Silver Winner in the People Category, and Honorable Mention
– 16th Annual Smithsonian.com Photo Contest, Photo of the Day, Editor’s Pick (September 21, 2018)
– The Biennial for Fine Art & Documentary, May 2019 Grant, Shortlisted, February 2019
BOOKS
“Moneygame,” Photography Book, XYZ Books Lisbon, September 2021. Exposing lives of exotic dancers across America, 130 pages.
“Elizabeth Waterman Photographs 2011-2016,” Photography Book, Black & Gold Publishing, September 2016. Collection of portraits, 240 pages.
Editorials by photographer Elizabeth Waterman below