Candela is devoted to elevating the discourse around contemporary photography through exhibitions and publications that highlight compelling narratives and experimental approaches to the medium, showcasing regional, national, and international artists, with a particular focus on emerging and mid-career voices.
Our Mission
Photos by Terry Brown
Candela Books was founded in 2010, by Gordon Stettinius, as an independent photobook publisher to enhance the legacy of New York photographer, Gita Lenz. Candela Gallery was founded in 2011, shortly after, as a space to support Candela’s early publication efforts. Candela Gallery followed shortly after in 2011 as a space to support the organization’s early publishing efforts through exhibitions, conversations, and community engagement focused on contemporary photography.
Over the past fourteen years, Candela has grown into a vital platform for artists, photographers, collectors, students, and the broader creative community. What began as a small publishing initiative has grown into a commercial fine art photography gallery and publisher presenting 8–10 exhibitions annually for regional, national, and international artists. Working across photography, installation, sculpture, alternative process, and mixed media practices, the gallery has mounted more than 100 exhibitions featuring nearly 700 artists through solo, group, and themed presentations.
Alongside its exhibition program, Candela has published ten hardcover monographs and exhibition catalogs over the past fourteen years, working closely with artists to bring ambitious projects into print. Publications include Chris McCaw’s Sunburn, 100 Views of the Drowning World and Dr. Falke’s Oraculum by duo Kahn & Selesnick, and most recently, Memory Orchards, an anthology about photographers and their families.
Candela is also home to the annual free open call exhibition UnBound!, a broad survey of contemporary photography that serves as both an exhibition opportunity and collection acquisition initiative for participating artists. Through the fundraiser associated with the exhibition, Candela has built the Candela Collection — now comprising more than 120 photographic artworks and objects — all intended for eventual donation to a permanent institutional collection.
Throughout its history, Candela has collaborated with numerous local organizations, independent publishers, artist-run spaces, and nonprofit initiatives while continuing to support artists through exhibitions, publications, portfolio reviews, art fairs, lectures, and community-centered programming.
Our Legacy
Curiosity energizes our team and shapes the way we engage with artists, audiences, and the evolving landscape of contemporary photography. It drives us to present work that sparks creativity, conversation, and critical dialogue, while continually challenging us to discover new voices and reconsider how a gallery space can operate within a broader cultural community. We carry this openness into both our physical and virtual spaces, encouraging visitors to engage deeply, ask questions, and leave with new perspectives.
We are committed to exposing audiences to expansive and experimental applications of the photographic medium. Photography, as both a means of communication and an art form, continues to evolve rapidly, and our intention is to pay close attention, mark the moment, and remain a source of inspiration, discovery, and exchange.
Candela’s impact extends beyond exhibitions and publishing. The gallery has collaborated with local organizations, independent publishers, artist-run spaces, and nonprofit initiatives while serving as a gathering place for artists, students, collectors, and the broader creative community. Through artist talks, screenings, portfolio reviews, concerts, book fairs, fundraisers, and countless informal conversations, Candela embraces the idea that spaces centered around art can also become spaces for collective experience, exchange, and care.
Our Philosophy + Values
