Introducing Candela Photographic Arts
After fifteen years as Candela Books + Gallery, we are excited to share that we have officially received our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and are reintroducing ourselves as Candela Photographic Arts, a transition that has been years in the making.
Candela was founded in 2010 by photographer Gordon Stettinius as an independent photo book publisher with a mission to support thoughtful, challenging, and personal photographic work. What began as a publishing platform soon expanded into a gallery space dedicated to exhibitions and artist dialogues around contemporary photography.
Though we’ve remained rooted in this mission, Candela has grown into far more than a gallery throughout its lifetime. We’ve published projects we believe in, exhibited hundreds of artists from local creatives to internationally recognized practitioners, and fostered a wide-reaching community of collectors and photo enthusiasts. Candela has also helped steward and preserve photographic legacies through publishing projects, exhibitions, and archive management for artists such as Willie Anne Wright and the estates of Louis Draper and Gita Lenz.
We’ve watched artists' careers and projects progress, welcomed thousands of visitors through our doors, and created a space where photography can be celebrated for its contribution to the public as well as its connection to process and experimentation.
Why the change?
Simply put, this transition bolsters our capacity to directly support artists and broaden public access to contemporary photography. As one of the only organizations in the region dedicated exclusively to contemporary photography, we see this transition as an opportunity to broaden public access to the medium while creating valuable support structures for artists.
What will be different?
A primary goal of Candela Photographic Arts is to provide just compensation for hard-working exhibiting artists. We recognize the immense labor, time, and resources that go into creating and sharing meaningful work. We are developing new ways for photographers to engage with our exhibition and publishing efforts through an artist membership program. As a nonprofit organization, we look forward to furthering our educational and public programming, developing new partnerships, and creating additional opportunities for artists, collectors, students, and photography lovers to engage with the medium in deeper and more accessible ways.
Additionally, there will be some evolution among current staff. Candela's founder, Gordon Stettinius, will be serving as President of Candela’s Board of Directors. Ashby Nickerson will be stepping up into the role of Executive Director, and Whitney Cole will shift to Deputy Director.
OUR FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS:
Nadiya Nacorda
Jordan Roeder
Sarah Kennel
Kei Ito
Sarah Irvin
Michael Schewel
Gordon Stettinius, President
How can you engage with us?
This next phase will create new opportunities for photographers to engage directly with our exhibitions and publishing initiatives through increased access within the gallery itself, from member-focused project spaces to rotating experimental installations throughout the building.
We aim to support programs like this through the Collector Dinner Series, a series of intimate evenings that bring artists, collectors, and supporters to the table in support of Candela’s mission. Alongside our beloved UnBound! fundraising celebration, gatherings like this will help sustain exhibitions, publications, artist support, and free public programming through sponsorships, special events, and community participation.
Though the name has changed, our commitment remains the same: to elevate conversations around contemporary photography while supporting artists and fostering genuine community.
We’re incredibly grateful to the artists, collectors, supporters, collaborators, and visitors who have helped shape Candela over the past fifteen years. This next chapter would not be possible without you.
We’re excited for what’s ahead.
