In Keith Carter's work, there is always more than meets the eye. The contemporary American photographer's pictures have a Surrealist quality, and Carter has a way of transforming the ordinary into the otherworldly. He strives to bring out the significance of the moment with black and white, figurative and abstract photography that has a deep sense of time and place.
Carter was born in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1948. He grew up in Beaumont, Texas, where he also studied business management at Lamar University, graduating in 1970. After finding himself drawn to taking pictures, Carter started working as a commercial photographer.
Photography proved a successful and fruitful calling, and Carter earned recognition for his work over the years. In 1997, his photography was nationally televised on CBS Sunday Morning. Celebrities also started collecting Carter's photographs, including Julia Roberts, Steven Spielberg, Diane Keaton, Elton John, Vanessa Redgrave and Barack Obama.
Carter was awarded the Texas Medal of Arts in 2009. Unfortunately, that same year, he was diagnosed with melanoma in his left eye, leaving him with limited vision. His photographic work helped him get through the experience: he even decided to make photographs focused on sight itself. Carter began experimenting with materials like silver gelatin and archival pigment to mimic the cloudiness of his vision.
Carter is represented by PDNB Gallery in Dallas, Texas, as well as by other galleries across the United States. In speaking to Introspective, the owners of PDNB Gallery describe Carter as a "Texas legend" and explain that they were following his work before they even opened their gallery. Their first 1997 show with the artist was described as a "blockbuster."
Carter's work is held in the collections at the Art Institute of Chicago, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and many more prestigious institutions. He holds the Endowed Walles Chair of Art at Lamar University and continues to exhibit and hold workshops across the United States.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of original Keith Carter photography.
Pinocchio on Dove
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 25 Signed, titled, dated and numbered. Paper size: 17 x 22 in. Image size: 16 x 20 in. Keith Carter is an American photographer who is known for his dreamlike black and w...
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Gossamer Autumn
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Sky & Water During our historic pandemic, I began morning walks through the marshlands west of town. I felt that I was walking through prehistory, and could count on seeing at least one small miracle each day: luminous reflected clouds in water, a nonchalant bobcat, frolicking river otters...
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Turner Clouds, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Turner Clouds, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by the...
Archival Ink
Price Upon Request
Swirls, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Swirls, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by the Los An...
Archival Ink
Price Upon Request
Sunken Weathervane, color photograph, signed and numbered, limited edition
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Sunken Weathervane, color photograph, signed and numbered, limited edition Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” b...
Archival Ink
Price Upon Request
Lone Pine, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Lone Pine, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by the Los...
Archival Ink
Price Upon Request
Laguna Salinas, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Laguna Salinas, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by th...
Archival Ink
Price Upon Request
Illuminated Tree, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Illuminated Tree, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by ...
Archival Ink
Price Upon Request
Ibis on Clouds, color landscape photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Ibis on Clouds, color landscape photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordina...
Archival Ink
Price Upon Request
Flying V, color landscape photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Flying V, color landscape photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” b...
Archival Ink
Price Upon Request
Egret and Crane, color photograph, signed and numbered, limited edition
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Egret and Crane, color photograph, signed and numbered, limited edition. Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by t...
Archival Ink
Price Upon Request
Bullrushes, color landscape photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Bullrushes, color landscape photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary”...
Archival Ink
$2,200
H 29 in W 40 in
Shades of Pale - abstract photograph of painterly details of blue toned wall
By Frank Schott
Located in San Francisco, CA
Shades of Pale (Wallscape) by Frank Schott from a series of photographic observances capturing urban textures and color palettes 29 x 40 inches / 74cm x 102cm edition of 25 si...
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment, Archival Ink, Giclée
$3,800
H 48 in W 86 in
Airfield - large scale aerial observation of aeronautical facility
By Erik Pawassar
Located in San Francisco, CA
large scale photograph morphing into a mesmerizing abstract tapestry, a highly detailed aerial photograph, on closer observation morphing into an abstract pictorial tapestry of deser...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment, Giclée
$9,000
H 44 in W 55 in D 2 in
VELD 5 Noordoostpolder Flevoland, Framed Archival Pigment Print
By David Burdeny
Located in New York City, NY
Details 44 x 55 inches (115 x 140 cm) edition of 10 Medium: Archival Pigment Print Mounted and framed Available sizes and editions: 21 x 26 inches, edition of 7 32 x 40 inches, ed...
Archival Pigment
$9,000
H 44 in W 55 in D 2 in
Isola di Ortigia (Homage to Misrach), Siracusa, Italy
By David Burdeny
Located in New York City, NY
Details 44 x 55 inches (115 x 140 cm) edition of 10 Medium: Archival Pigment Print Mounted and framed Available sizes and editions: 21 x 26 inches, edition of 7 32 x 40 inches, ed...
Archival Pigment
$4,400
H 67 in W 48 in
Caleidoscope II Abstract Photography, Signed Edition of 7, 67x48\"
By Christian Stoll
Located in San Francisco, CA
Mesmerizing abstract color play of muted tones and surreal shapes, from a series of still life works created entirely in camera Caleidoscope II by Christian Stoll 67 x 48 inches (1...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment, Giclée
Tea'd Off
By Patty Carroll
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Anonymous Women: Domestic Demise In the latest narratives, “Domestic Demise,” the woman becomes the victim of domestic disasters. Her activities, obsessions and objects are overwhel...
Archival Pigment
$9,000
H 44 in W 55 in D 2 in
VELD 20 Noordoostpolder Flevoland, Framed Archival Pigment Print
By David Burdeny
Located in New York City, NY
Details 44 x 55 inches (115 x 140 cm) edition of 10 Medium: Archival Pigment Print Mounted and framed Available sizes and editions: 21 x 26 inches, edition of 7 32 x 40 inches, ed...
Archival Pigment
$4,500
H 40 in W 60 in
"On the edge of nothingness, n4" Giclee Print, Abstract Photography, Limited Ed.
By Hatice Besun
Located in Brooklyn, NY
On the edge of nothingness / n°4 / Photograph Creator: Hatice Besun Creation year: 2024 Dimension: 40 x 60” External Dimension( with white border) Height:40.8 in.( 103.63 cm) Width:...
Archival Paper, Archival Ink, Archival Pigment, Giclée
$9,000
H 44 in W 55 in D 2 in
Tide Pool Australia Framed Archival Pigment Print, Contemporary Art
By David Burdeny
Located in New York City, NY
Details 44 x 55 inches (115 x 140 cm) edition of 10 Medium: Archival Pigment Print Mounted and framed Available sizes and editions: 21 x 26 inches, edition of 7 32 x 40 inches, ed...
Archival Pigment
$9,000
H 44 in W 55 in D 2 in
Water Taxis in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam - Archival Pigment Print, Framed
By David Burdeny
Located in New York City, NY
Details 44 x 55 inches (115 x 140 cm) edition of 10 Medium: Archival Pigment Print Mounted and framed Available sizes and editions: 21 x 26 inches, edition of 7 32 x 40 inches, ed...
Archival Pigment
$1,229
H 40 in W 60 in D 0.1 in
'Sunday's Tulips (III)' Large Scale Photo bold flower pastel red orange white
By Sophia Milligan
Located in Penzance, GB
'Sunday's Tulips (III)' 40 x 60" edition Limited edition archival photograph, hand signed and numbered. Unframed _________________ Gauzy afternoon light, the tulips are stretching so...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Giclée, Archival Pigment
$1,229
H 40 in W 60 in D 0.1 in
'Spring Rain' Large Scale Photograph Cherry blossom Sakura flowers green white
By Sophia Milligan
Located in Penzance, GB
'Spring Rain' ('Mono No Aware' Series) 40 x 60" edition Limited edition archival photograph, hand signed and numbered. Unframed _________________ The cherry blossoms burst from naked...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Giclée, Archival Pigment, Digital...
$1,229
H 40 in W 60 in D 0.1 in
'Spring couplet' Large Scale Photograph Cherry blossom Sakura flowers white pink
By Sophia Milligan
Located in Penzance, GB
'Spring Couplet' ('Mono No Aware' Series) 40 x 60" edition Limited edition archival photograph, hand signed and numbered. Unframed _________________ The dance of the cherry blossoms ...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Digital, Giclée, Archi...
Rogue Gallery
By Patty Carroll
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Anonymous Women: Domestic Demise In the latest narratives, “Domestic Demise,” the woman becomes the victim of domestic disasters. Her activities, obsessions and objects are overwhel...
Archival Pigment
$1,700
H 24 in W 16 in
Red, Into the Light, Abstract Photography Giclee Print, 1/20, 2021
By Hatice Besun
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Red" Into the Light, Abstract Photography, Giclee Print, Numbered 1/20 Creator: Hatice Besun Creation year: 2021 Dimension: 24 x 16” External Dimension( with white border) : Height...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Giclée, Archival Pigment