William Mark Sommer

Artist Statement

I am a visual artist who utilizes analog photography and the American landscape to create long-term projects, books and installations that convey stories about human nature, preservation, empathy and time. Through my twenty-years photographing the landscape of America, I have come to know and commune with many unique places, cultures and communities, while learning more about myself trough metaphorical and metaphysical processes of creation. Through my evolution in traveling and creating, I look to build on connections to the land, developing an understanding of what we hold dear and how our actions shape our environments, while shedding a light on the unique stories we all tell and the beauty of life that surrounds us.

Through my creative practice, I have utilized a democratic perspective of exhibition, sharing works through an open and unbiased way for everyone in community exhibitions, museums, public displays, social media and the book form. Through these many forms of exhibition, I have cherished the communal experience of art and its ability to create change, influence and develop interest for many as they have continually inspired the world around me.