Meet Zachary Balber | Artist disguised as a Photographer

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

Hi Zachary, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
The Art World is a very strange place filled with amazing geniuses that have a very particular focus in their life and work. There are many people that do documentary work, but photographing, Virtual scanning and video for the arts is not the same as any other industry. I am honored to be one of the most sought after documenters for the Art World in Miami and abroad. Working with artists is challenging because they expect a certain level of excellency with documentation of their work. The ultimate challenge with documenting art is translating the ideas of the artist into a digital format that compliments the artists work and practice. One of the best historical examples is acclaimed portrait photographer, Arnold Newman; who posed the artists in a format that mirrored their work and practice. I believe most people outside the Art-world have no idea about how many strange geniuses we have that comprise the fine art community. Art is the highest calling of them all, to translate the untranslatable and give birth to ideas that transcend their time and medium. Art is a way of approaching life and problem solving. The manifestation of the thinking and all the research becomes a modern symphony for all of us to sit back, enjoy and reflect on our own lives and ways of being. I am truly honored to work with some of the greatest artists of our time and assist them in translating their ideas into bite size digital receipts for everyone to consume.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is utilizing the medium of photography to create unforgettable receipts for the world to consume. We have all become documenters with our phones in our pockets and life happening all around us. So, how can someone be a professional photographer; when everyone is a documenter these days. Photography is the first love of my life and photo has helped me to eat the “elephant of life;” one image at a time. My belief is that anyone can learn photo, video and virtual reality, but if being a documenter does not heal you in some way; eventually you will stop doing it. After burying all my immediate family, I realized my family has all transformed into photos on my fringe, throughout my house and in storage boxes. I see photography like memory, it transports, it archives, it has become the receipt of modern life. Like Susan Sontag states in her book “On Photography,” “to be photographed in today’s world is to matter, we do not photograph things that do not matter.” As an artist, it seemed impossible to breakthrough the walls of bureaucracy, market makers and side ways dealing. I walked into the art-world dreaming of being a famous artist and after 11 years documenting it; I realized its a secret chess game for the powers that be. My belief is that the real artists are usually assistants to the “artists” on the main stage. I learned that documenting art was my passport into meeting museum directors, curators, artists, dealers and collectors from all over the world. The business of art is rather unregulated and has smoke screens all over it. A good friend said to me – make the art you want to see, especially if you do not see it out there. I take the challenge of that statement into my art practice and commercial practice everyday, by creating images that most people will not forget. I have created a standard in south Florida and a photography aesthetic that many people try to mimic; but magic takes time and is not created with AI editing. I”ve learned that dealing with people is an art and not many people are that fluent in this language. Photography, video and Virtual reality are all excuses for me to build relationships with people I want to be close to in my everyday life. When I get a call for work, it’s usually a friend or a new relationship that will become not just a client but someone that adds value to my existence. I have also been burned by many people, clients and the like throughout my career. My advice is to learn how to apologize to people that you might have harmed by accident or intentionally. I also learned that we are all human and we make mistakes, so forgiveness is part of the journey when you work with lots of people. I’ve also learned that energy is contagious, so I distance myself from people that do not have my best interest at heart. I am unlike any other documenter in the city and sometimes you have to distance yourself from those people that have bad vibes because it might get you infected. I am honored to work with some of the best creatives in the city and the world. I thought photography would be obsolete by now; yet it has only grown in demand more than I ever imagined. One day I will find someone to sponsor a book that features my images of all the artists I’ve documented over the past 11 years.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
An itinerary for a visitor in Miami…. where to begin… I think this depends on the persons interest and their personality. Miami has a flavor for everyone and a myriad of cultural things to do. First, if you like the full moon, then I would recommend attending a drum circle on 74st and Collins; its a wonderful experience with love, music and kinship in the air. Second, Miami is water town so you need to get on a jet ski or boat and go hang out at the sandbar at Hallover cut and receive drinks and food on jet ski’s while your chilling in your floaty on the ocean. If you have more time/budget there are some secret sandbars for the well-off visitors in Miami. Food I would recommend Ricky Thai – best Thai food in the city, affordable and always fresh! Sushi Song is the best sushi in Miami, they are open on Miami Beach and in Hollywood FL. I would recommend to take a trip to “Robert is Here” which started as a fruit stand and has evolved into a must see place with amazing ice cream and local products to buy. Also Nos Berry farm has a line usually but they make some truly amazing cinnamon buns that are a must have; its also close to Robert is Here. Also, Miami Squeeze in Aventura is a great place for healthy wraps and smoothies. This place is special to me because I have been going there since I was a kid and it was called Amos’s Juice Bar. Art is all over the city and can be found using our local art guide. There is much to see in Miami’s art scene and if anyone needs some recommendations, just contact me because there are too many to discuss here. We also having amazing parks in Miami and I would advise visiting Oleta Park for sunset kaiak tours!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am going to credit and give thanks to many people; because it takes a village to make a business come true. First, I need to give credit the the entire art circle in Miami. From artists, to dealers, to curators and conservators; I thank all of you for supporting my photography and now virtual reality and video for the arts and the community. I have to first give thanks to my assistant Michael Lopez, that graduated from New World School of the Arts as a Photography major. I was honest with him in the beginning and told him to stay after me, if he wanted to continue working with me. Michael made the effort that other people and students did not make; so he got the position. Michael is also an amazing artist that paints in the dark room by using photography chemicals and light sensitive paper. We started off acquaintances and now we are like brothers that trust each other and compliment each other. I never thought I would have help in my business, but I am honored to have another great creative as part of my team! My next shoutout is to Cricket Taplin, former owner of the Sagamore hotel on Miami Beach. Cricket was one of my first clients and she asked me to document the art in her collection for the Sagamore Hotel. She also purchased my artwork and has been a huge support for Miami artists! My second shoutout is to Fredric Snitzer Gallery for hiring me to help him with his gallery and artist roster. While working with Fred, I was asked to re-edit the images that his photographer made for his gallery. Many of the artists at Fred’s were my fellow classmates from New World School of the Arts. I felt an obligation to give my friends better images that were more accurate in color and clarity to the actual work. So, I convinced Fred to purchase a camera and lights and let me do the photography for the gallery to save him money and to offer the same service to other galleries. Nonetheless, in about 6 months I asked him if I could buy him out of the business and go on my own. Fred was my teacher, mentor and gallerist and will be forever grateful for his belief in me and my work. Locust Projects, the longest running alternative space for artists in Miami. At the time it was run by Chana Budgazad Sheldon and she was a huge life line for me starting out documenting fine art. Locust Projects encourages artists to make exhibitions that they would not be encouraged or allowed to make in a commercial gallery. Therefore, I had the opportunity to document the hardest things in the world to photograph; contemporary art. David Castillo Gallery was always a huge supporter of my art and my commercial work. I’ve been honored to document for many of the internationally acclaimed artists that David represents. I also get the privilege to watch artists careers grow and change over the years. It makes a huge difference to the images when the documenter has a relationship with the artists, work and gallerist. I literally need to mention the entire city because without their continued support, I would not have a business. So here are many of the other people and institutions that deserve a shout out from me: Mindy Solomon Gallery, Primary Projects, Oolite Arts formerly known as Art Center, the Bass Museum, The Frost Art Museum, Museum of Art and Design (MOAD), FAU Gallery, Sarah Gavlak Gallery, Michael Jon Gallery, the historical Alfred Dupont Building – Tilia Group, Fringe Projects, Gander and White, Bonnier Gallery, Nina Johnson Gallery, De La Cruz Cruz Collection, ICA Museum, NSU Museum, MOCA NAOMI, New World School of the Arts, the Jewish Museum of Florida, The Taste Modern, Andy Warhol Foundation, LnS Gallery, Voyage MIA Magazine, writer Anne Tschida, writer Elisa Turner, Brett Sokol, City of Golden Beach, The Jills Team, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, News Travels Fast PR, and honestly many more!

Website: zacharybalber.com
Instagram: @zacharybalber
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Image Credits
All Photography by Zachary Balber