Meet Cheryl Maeder | Fine Art Photographer and Video Installation Artist/Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cheryl Maeder and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cheryl, how does your business help the community?
I am a Fine Art Photographer and Video Installation Artist/Filmmaker. My photographs and short films revolve around the concept of connection; connection to the environment, to oneself, to others, and to all living beings. We humans are not separate entities from nature; rather, we are an integral part of it. My work unveils the potent energies at play on our planet, normally invisible to the naked eye but internally sensed during moments of profound wonder. My photographs and short films convey a sense of witnessing something profound, inviting observers to recognize the interconnectedness of the universe and urging them to allow this sense of connection to be more present in their lives.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
In my early 20s, I moved to Switzerland. While there a friend lent me his Nikon camera and I began to photograph. Another friend gave me his darkroom equipment and that was it! I basically fell in love with photography. I worked day and night photographing , and then playing in the darkroom till all hours. After photographing my first portrait, I came out of the darkroom and declared to myself and those around me, that this is what I want to do with my life! I became a professional photographer and artist from that moment on. I studied at the Zurich University of the Arts in Zurich, Switzerland. I then came back to the States and eventually opened my studio in San Francisco. I photographed for major international advertising and fashion campaigns. My work was the inspiration for the Dove Campaign on Real Women Real Beauty which transformed the way women are viewed in the global media today. In 2005, I relocated to Miami area, and deeply immersed myself in the world of fine art photography and creating video installations/short films. I have never stopped since. It is who I am. I work from the inside/out, therefore, my style is very fluid and changes as I grow and move forward. I have always been concerned with breaking through stereotypes in myself, which reflects in my work.

The creation of my work involves an intricate process, including location scouting, meticulous planning, on-site experimentation, extensive shooting, and the hope for cooperative weather to enhance the final outcome. All these efforts converge to capture a fleeting moment when all elements harmonize.

My fine art photographs and video installations are featured in various permanent museum, corporate and private collections. My work has been exhibited extensively in the United States, South America and Europe, including The Louvre Museum, Paris, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Rome. My video installations are now in the Montefiore Medical Center, New York and in Delta Air Lines, permanent collection and installed at Delta Sky Clubs in Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles Airports, and in the future, Miami International Airport.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In December. I would take them to Miami and to all the incredible art fairs that are in the city during that time such as Art Miami, Art Basel, Untitled and Scope Art Fairs. I would take them to all the great beaches along the southeast coast of Florida. I would also take them to the gorgeous natural springs that are in Central Florida such as Kelly Park, Rock Springs. We would also go to Key West and Islamorada. I would also take them to the beautiful forests and natural parks that are here in Florida.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes, I would like to dedicate my shoutout to Artist Gary Antonio, my husband. We shared a deep love for Art and Nature. Gary passed in June, 2023. When I think of Gary, what stands out, is his profound love for art and his profound connection with nature in all its forms. It is this wonderment and love of the natural world that was Gary’s essence. I feel that Gary’s presence is always with me and will continue to live on in my work.

Website: https://www.maederphotography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherylmaeder

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-maeder/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cherylmaeder

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtistCherylMaeder

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/cherylmaeder

Other: https://www.codaworx.com/profile/?maedermaederphotography-com/