Petra Collins

Petra Collins
Born December 21, 1992
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nationality Canadian
Known for Fashion photography, Portraiture, fashion design
Website
http://www.petracollins.com/

Petra Collins (born December 21, 1992)[1] is a Canadian portraiture photographer, fashion photographer and fashion designer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Early life

Petra grew up in Toronto, Ontario and attended Rosedale Heights School of the Arts.[2] It was at Rosedale at the age of 15, Collins began practicing the art of photography.[3] Collins currently attends Ontario College of Art and Design.[2]

Career

Collins began taking pictures in High School.[2] She met Richard Kern while assisting him on a shoot, and he became her mentor.[2] She also acts as Kern's casting director while he is shooting in Toronto.[1][4][5]

She appeared in a segment of "Shot by Kern", a video series produced by Vice Magazine.[4]

Collins is a contributing photographer for Rookie Magazine.[6] Collins has shot for Purple magazine,[7] Urban Outfitters,[1] Vogue Italia[1] and Vice Magazine.[8]

In 2013, Collins designed a number of graphic tee-shirts for American Apparel. One featured a vagina and hand in a masturbatory position complete with Menstrual blood. The shirt was met with minor controversy.[9][10] Another tee-shirt featured a "wet tee shirt" view of breasts.[9] In an interview with Time Magazine Collins responded saying: "“I’m really interested in what is hidden from our culture. We are always repressing or hiding what is natural to a post-pubescent body. We’re taught to hate our menstrual cycle and even to hide masturbation." [11]

Collins further broke down the situation in an interview with VICE magazine, responding to the controversy saying "It’s really awesome. I’m not surprised. It’s exactly what I wanted because it totally proves my point… [t]hat we’re so shocked and appalled at something that’s such a natural state—and it’s funny that out of all the images everywhere, all of the sexually violent images, or disgustingly derogatory images, this is something that’s so, so shocking apparently. The graphic on my shirt is a line drawing, too. It’s not even a full-on image." She later added that anyone who was offended by the tee-shirt "should probably masturbate and you’ll feel better—and then think about it again." [12]

Also in 2013, in the same month, Collins' Instagram account was deleted, for a photograph of herself with her own pubic hair emerging from bikini bottoms.[13] Collins claims the account deletion was unfounded because it did not break any of Instagram's terms and conditions.[14]

Collins has inked a deal with Prestel Publishing for an art book of her own work and curated pieces from other artists.[3]

In March 2014, Collins had her first solo show at Capricious 88 in New York City. The following week she curated a group show titled Pussy Pat.[15]

Process

When shooting photography, Collins exclusively uses 35mm film.[15]

Reception

Collins has been publicized by The National Post, Vice Magazine, CTV[16] and MTV.[1] Collins was considered one of Canada's top 30 young photographers under 30 years of age by Bloun Artinfo.[17] The Toronto Star named Collins in a 2013 year-end retrospective as a "Person to Watch".[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 http://www.petracollins.com/cv/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Elianna Lev goes back to school with teenage photography phenom Petra Collins | National Post
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 People to Watch: Petra Collins looks through lens of next-wave feminism | Toronto Star
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 In Canada - Toronto | VICE United States
  5. ↑ Interview: Petra Collins | Fashion Magazine | News. Fashion. Beauty. Music. | oystermag.com
  6. ↑ Rookie » Archives » Petra
  7. ↑ purple TELEVISION
  8. ↑ Infatuated | VICE United States
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 American Apparel shoppers brand 'period' T-shirt showing a blood-soaked vagina 'vile' and 'disturbing' | Mail Online
  10. ↑ American Apparel Now Selling A $32 "Period Power" T-Shirt
  11. ↑ American Apparel's Menstruation T-Shirt: 'Period Power' | TIME.com
  12. ↑ Chatting with Petra Collins About Her Menstruating-Vagina Shirt | VICE United States
  13. ↑ "Petra's pubic post deemed too personal for public consumption, Instagram deletes account". news.com.au. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  14. ↑ Stoeffel, Kat (17 October 2013). "Instagram Censors Artistic Bush". The Cut. New York Magazine. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Zeroing In On Adolescent Girlhood, Petra Collins Shoots From the Hip
  16. ↑ "Teen T.O. photographer creating global buzz". The Canadian Press (CTVNews). 4 August 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  17. ↑ Sky Goodden; Benjamin Bruneau. "Oh Canada! 30 Promising Young Art World Stars From the Great White North". 28 January 2013. Blouin Artinfo. Retrieved 22 January 2014.