Simone Lueck
Education
2005 MFA
University of California at San Diego
1997 BA
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Selected Exhibitions
2009 The Photo Review benefit auction, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2009 Soho Photo 2009 National Competition, Soho Photo Gallery, New York, NY
2009 Descubrimientos PHE09, PhotoEspana, Madrid, Spain
2008 The Photo Review benefit auction, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2005 LAXART Launch Party and Silent Auction, MC Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2005 Greater LA MFA Exhibition, CSULB, Long Beach, CA
2005 Supersonic, LA Design Center, Los Angeles, CA
2005 Now Happening, University Art Gallery, UCSD, San Diego, CA
Bibliography
The Once and Future Queens, Capricious Magazine #10 featured portfolio, 2009
Cuban Television Sets, Afterimage Journal, featured portfolio, March 2009
Blogs
Cuban Television Sets, This Photo That, August 2009
Los Angeles Artist Series, Superluminal, August 2009
Simone Lueck, In My Community, Perth, Western Australia, August 2009
The Once and Future Queens, Conscientious, July 2009
The Once and Future Queens, Feature Shoot, July 2009
The Once and Future Queens, LOZ, June 2009
Karaoke Bar, IHeartPhotograph.com, January 2009
Simone Lueck , Lenscratch.com, January 2009
Collections
Princeton University Art Museum
Self-published monograph “Pictures From The Beach”
Awards
2004 Aaron Siskind Foundation Individual Photographer’s Fellowship
Simone Lueck | The Once and Future Queens
I am fascinated with the extant performance that is played out through the ceremonies and rituals of every day life. For the past year, I have been making pictures of women posing as glamorous movie stars. The series, The Once and Future Queens, includes pictures of individuals who answered an online ad soliciting older woman to pose as glamorous movie stars:
Seeking fabulous, striking, interesting older woman to pose as a glamorous movie star for photo series. Please submit a photo and describe how you would pose as a glamorous movie star. There is no pay, but images will be provided. All types will be considered. Thank you! (Craigslist post, 2009)
The pictures are collaborations: Each participant is asked to provide her own makeup, hair and wardrobe. As active players in the affair, the women are able to shape their individual portrayal.
- Francine found a vintage Bob Mackie at a second hand store in Burbank. The shiny gold gown was allegedly once worn by Linda Evans on Dynasty.
- Claudia wanted to shoot in the park; she said she would like to pose as Gina Lollobridgida. She brought a blond faux fur coat to stretch out on and donned a matching blond wig.
- Mara bathed in a bath of bubbles at her home in Rancho Cucamonga (a glamour bath à la Brigitte Bardot).
The shows are fantasies, and the performance reflects each woman’s perception of glamour. Through these private exhibitions, a culture of faded glamour emerges. The women are understood to be motivated by the desire to perform, as though this essential desire had been left idle and unfulfilled. While posing as a glamorous movie star, each woman is, for a moment, fulfilling her fantasy.
In addition to glamour shots, the series includes captured moments where the participant is doing something and is unaware that of the camera. These pictures add context and provide distance from the fantasy and a more spontaneous and natural look at the women in their chosen environment.
The series reveals parallel worlds where fantasy may be the reality, where desires remain unfulfilled, and where faded glamour is glowing, harsh and beautiful.