CARLOS DIAZ Photography 

Carlos Diaz is a Professor of Photography and is currently photographing and conducting research for his second book, The Confederate Monument in the American South.

 

Diaz is a former chair of the Photography Department at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI, where he has taught for 37 years. Before taking his position at CCS, Diaz taught at Bowling Green State University and the University of Michigan, School of Art (now the Penny Stamps School of Art). Prior to his teaching career, Diaz was a draftsman and mechanical designer in numerous capacities. Diaz has been assistant to Eugene Richards, Mary Ellen Mark and Lee Friedlander. For 40 years Diaz’s work has revolved around his interest in the fluidity of history and memory, the connections between people and place and how race relations impact the world in which we live.

 

Significant Publications/Presentations and Exhibitions

• Diaz’s first monograph, The Invented Landscapes of Coney Island and Carnival Ride Attendants, was published in 2017 by Obscura Land Publishers. The book includes essays from renowned photo critic, A. D. Colman, historian, Mary McNichols, PhD and by Diaz. A Deluxe Edition clamshell box, Japanese hand bound book and print folio was also produced in limited edition.

• Diaz’s work was included in the book, The Photographer in the Garden, published in 2018 by the Aperture Foundation.

• Diaz was a featured artist in the critically acclaimed journal, Detroit Research: Volume Two, in the article A Conversation with Carlos Diaz by Mary McNichols, PhD, published Spring/Fall 2016.

• Diaz’s solo exhibition, Spaces and Spectacle: A 25 Year Retrospective, was shown in 2017, at the David Klein Gallery, Detroit, MI.

• Diaz’s work is in the collections of Museum of fine Arts, Houston, Museum of the City of New York, Detroit Institute of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC, among others.

• Diaz’s work is represented by David Klein Gallery, Detroit, MI and Photo-eye Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.

• Diaz is the recipient of University of Michigan Rackham Graduate Fellowships (3), grants from National Endowment for the Arts, Ford Foundation, NEA Midwest, Polaroid Foundation, Michigan Council for the Arts; Individual Artist Grant (3), Kresge Community Arts Grant and bestowed the Wayne County Artistic Excellence and Community Commitment Award.