Biography
Sandy Carson (b. 1972) is a Scottish photographer who emigrated to the United States in 1993 in pursuit of cycling, and enjoyed a 15 year career traveling the world as a professional BMX rider, where he honed his skills as a photographer.
Carson’s photography explores sensitive cultural issues of American consumerism and the social landscape with a scrutiny particular to one who was born and raised in another country. Constantly at play in his photographs is an irony born from the juxtaposition of disparate elements, a duality that consistently informs his viewpoint and is an intrinsic element of his work. Carson’s photography examines a specific and personal segment of American life with a bent simultaneously absurd and poignant.
Sandy has exhibited widely, both nationally and internationally, including at the University of Texas, Trinity University in San Antonio, Finch & Ada Gallery, New York, Musée de l’Elysée, Switzerland, and Okay Mountain Gallery in Austin. A monograph of his work on the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, Paradise Has Relocated, was published in 2010. His commercial editorial work has been published in various magazines, including Aperture, The Huffington Post, The Times, Rolling Stone, GQ, Juxtapoz, Spin, Vice, Bicycling, Interior Design, and the Austin Chronicle. His commercial clients include Nike, Red Bull, Remington, ESPN, Disney, Eastpak, Volcom, Fender, and Atlantic Records. He currently lives and works in Austin, Texas.
Solo Exhibitions
2013
Finding The Stoke. Cykel SF / San Francisco, CA
2010
Paradise Has Relocated. Okay Mountain Gallery / Austin, TX
2009
Documentary Works. University of Texas / Austin, TX
2008
Meat Street. Groundwork / Los Angeles, CA
Group Exhibitions
2013
Fixe x Seven. Arthouse at the Jones Center / Austin, TX
People’s Gallery Exhibition. Austin City Hall /Austin, TX
History IS His Story. End Of An Ear Records /Austin, TX
2012
Yet, By No Means.Center Space Gallery / University of Texas Visual Arts Center / Austin, TX
Slide Project(or). 2012 PhotoIreland Festival / Dublin IRE
The Future Is Not What It Used to Be. Neidorff Gallery / Trinity University / San Antonio, TX
Fixe x Seven. Arthouse at the Jones Center / Austin, TX
People’s Gallery Exhibition. Austin City Hall /Austin, TX
Slideluck Potshow IV. CTC Garden Austin, TX
Teenage Wasteland. Co-Lab / Austin, TX
Tim Kerr & Friends. Kettle Art / Dallas, TX
2011
Black Friday. Finch & Ada Gallery / New York, NY
More Than Architecture. University of Texas Fine Arts Library
Red Dot Art Exhibit. Women & Their Work Gallery / Austin, TX
People’s Gallery Exhibition. Austin City Hall / Austin, TX
Your Name Here. Monofonus Press Gallery / Austin, TX
Storytelling Exhibition. L. Nowlin Gallery / Austin, TX
Slideluck Potshow III. 501 Studios / Austin, TX
2010
People’s Gallery Exhibition. Austin City Hall / Austin, TX
Anxiety. Cantanker Magazine. Pump Project Gallery / Austin, TX
We Are All Photographers NOW! Nuit Des Musées. Rolex Learning Center / Switzerland
2009
Group Show. University of Texas / Austin, TX
A Field Guide to the North American Family. Gallery Bar / New York, NY
2008
Nike 6.0 Lightning Bolts Art Exhibit / Hollywood, CA
The Mustache Show Wild Zero Studios / Morgantown, WV
Polaroids. We the People Gallery / Cologne, Germany
Awards
2012
Conscientious Portfolio Competition, 25 short-listed photographers
Finalist, Picture Black Friday / New York, NY
2011
Best Art Photographer, Austin Chronicle Readers Poll
Runner up, Picture Black Friday / New York, NY
Honorable Mention, New Art in Austin / Austin Museum of Art
2010
Winner, Picture Black Friday / New York, NY
2009
Finalist, Photographer of the Year. Austin Museum of Art. AVA Awards
Best Photographer 2009, Austin Chronicle Readers Poll
1997
Finalist, BMX street. ESPN X Games
Artist Lectures/Talks
2013
Art Institute Of Austin / Roundrock, TX
2012
Center Space Gallery / University of Texas Visual Arts Center / Austin, TX
Art Institute Of Austin / Roundrock, TX
Michael & Noemi Neidorff Gallery / Trinity University / San Antonio, TX
2010
Okay Mountain Gallery / Austin, TX
2009
Ball High School / Galveston, TX
2008
Griffin High School / Austin, TX
Commercial Clients
Nike
ESPN
Disney
Red Bull
Remington
Atlantic Records
WE-TV
Knoll
Addiction Worldwide
Sesame Street Workshop
Fender Music Corp
University Of Texas
Volcom Stone
Dr. Martens
Boost Mobile
Jones Soda Co
Eastpak Europe
Rodale Inc.
Famecast
FLY PR
Giant Bicycle Inc
Fox Racing Inc.
Transworld Media
ZERO Skateboards
Filz Felt
The Innocence Project
Austin Humane Society
International Contemporary Furniture Fair
Publications
Books
Paradise Has Relocated. Sandy Carson
The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology / UT Press
Basics Creative Photography: Design Principles / AVA Academia Books
A Field Guide to the North American Family: An Illustrated Novella. Garth Risk Halberg
The Ride Journal
Magazines
Aperture Magazine
The Times
Rolling Stone Magazine
Juxtapoz Arts and Culture Magazine
Paved
Interior Design Magazine
Intersection Magazine UK
NME
Hamburger Eyes Magazine
Vice magazine
Snowboard Canada
Modern Luxury
Bicycling Magazine
Cantanker
Faesthetic Arts magazine
Austin Chronicle
Alcalde Magazine
I Heart Magazine
Portland Mercury
Austin Monthly
Panorama Italy
The Albion
Ride BMX
Mountain Bike Magazine
JPG Magazine
Cooler
Huck
Open
Online Bibliography
Conscientious
NPR
Huffington Post
Nowhere Fast
Phaidon
Atlas Magazine
Full Frame Collective
Austin Chronicle
One Giant Arm
Feature Shoot
Lenscratch
Humble Arts Foundation
British Journal Of Photography
Worlds Best Ever
Mossless Magazine
Picture Black Friday
The Daily Dot
Photoshelter
Life Lounge Magazine
Fecal Face
Mooncruise Magazine
Polar Inertia
Wanderlustagraphy
FWA Photo
FStop Magazine
Over / Under
Education
1992 Higher National Diploma, Communications / University of the West of Scotland
1989 Scottish National Certificate, Media Studies / Motherwell College, Scotland
Other Activities
Team rider for Fairdale Bikes
Musician with the music project IGLOMAT