Merging Sculpture, Landscape, and Photography with Thomas Jackson and Anne Kelly

Santa Fe Workshops collection of free online events, Creativity Continues, features a special conversation between photographer Thomas Jackson and curator Anne Kelly, whose professional relationship spans more than a decade. Since Anne began representing Thomas at photo-eye Gallery in 2015, she has followed the evolution of his work firsthand. Together, they look back on that creative journey, reflecting on how his ideas, process, and artistic vision continue to shift over time.

Working through photographs from across his career, Thomas shares how his practice has evolved from carefully controlled, staged images to ambitious outdoor installations that embrace unpredictability. He transforms everyday manufactured materials, plastic cups, balloons, drinking straws, tulle, and other common objects into large-scale sculptural forms that temporarily inhabit the landscape before being photographed on film.

Throughout the conversation, Thomas and Anne explore the realities of making this work, from transporting and assembling installations in remote locations to responding to wind, weather, and changing light. Rather than trying to control the environment, Thomas discusses how collaboration with nature has become an essential part of his creative process and how unexpected moments often lead to his strongest photographs.

Thomas is a photographer based in California whose large-scale installations merge sculpture, landscape, and photography. His work has been exhibited internationally and published in The New Yorker, Harper’s, Wired, and numerous other publications. Anne is Gallery and Shop Director at El Zaguan in Santa Fe and former Gallery Director of photo-eye Gallery. With more than 20 years of experience working with artists, she is also the creator and host of Art in the Raw, where she explores the creative process through conversations with artists, musicians, and other makers.

The program concludes as Thomas and Anne engage in a live Q&A with the webinar audience. For those unable to attend live, a recording is available to all registered participants.

Creativity Continues is a program that collectively develops creative voices by offering connection and encouraging expression. Because the goal is to engage all within our creative community, we encourage you to extend invitations and share Santa Fe Workshops Creativity Continues events with anyone who expresses an interest.