How do our environments shape us? To what extent can photography convey the experiences of living in a certain place? Matt Walla's talk will present questions surrounding the artistic choices and complications of photographing a familiar place and how photography can give new expression to our built environments. Walla's talk will include, for the first time, a public presentation of select prints from his ongoing series "Ordinary Fare," a long-term exploration of the neighborhoods of Santa Barbara, depicting quiet, uninhabited scenes, in the last light of the day. Walla will also speak about his professional work in architectural photography alongside his creative projects that bring to light the often unremarked-upon parts of the city.

 

Matt Walla (b. 1980) is a widely published photographer of architecture and the built environment. A graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography and Santa Barbara resident, he has three published books: “Casa del Herrero: The Romance of Spanish Colonial” and “Spanish Colonial Style”, by Rizzoli New York and “The Steedman Silver” by Tailwater Press. His fourth book, and third with Rizzoli, titled "Santa Barbara: At Home in Paradise" will be available in Spring of 2025. His work has been seen in Architectural Digest, LUXE, House Beautiful, The Classicist, This Old House, Aspire, California Homes, and others.