In Keith Carter's work, there is always more than meets the eye. The contemporary American photographer's pictures have a Surrealist quality, and Carter has a way of transforming the ordinary into the otherworldly. He strives to bring out the significance of the moment with black and white, figurative and abstract photography that has a deep sense of time and place.
Carter was born in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1948. He grew up in Beaumont, Texas, where he also studied business management at Lamar University, graduating in 1970. After finding himself drawn to taking pictures, Carter started working as a commercial photographer.
Photography proved a successful and fruitful calling, and Carter earned recognition for his work over the years. In 1997, his photography was nationally televised on CBS Sunday Morning. Celebrities also started collecting Carter's photographs, including Julia Roberts, Steven Spielberg, Diane Keaton, Elton John, Vanessa Redgrave and Barack Obama.
Carter was awarded the Texas Medal of Arts in 2009. Unfortunately, that same year, he was diagnosed with melanoma in his left eye, leaving him with limited vision. His photographic work helped him get through the experience: he even decided to make photographs focused on sight itself. Carter began experimenting with materials like silver gelatin and archival pigment to mimic the cloudiness of his vision.
Carter is represented by PDNB Gallery in Dallas, Texas, as well as by other galleries across the United States. In speaking to Introspective, the owners of PDNB Gallery describe Carter as a "Texas legend" and explain that they were following his work before they even opened their gallery. Their first 1997 show with the artist was described as a "blockbuster."
Carter's work is held in the collections at the Art Institute of Chicago, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and many more prestigious institutions. He holds the Endowed Walles Chair of Art at Lamar University and continues to exhibit and hold workshops across the United States.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of original Keith Carter photography.
Atchafalaya Study #1, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Atchafalaya Study #1, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by the...
Archival Ink
Rookery Study #2
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
This selection of images appear in my upcoming monograph scheduled for release fall of 2022 by the University of Texas Press. Ghostlight is an exploration of dark waters: the otherwo...
Archival Ink
Phantom Moss, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Phantom Moss, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered This photograph is part of Carter's series Ghost Light. Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular cult...
Archival Ink
Oak Mott Study #7, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Oak Mott Study #7, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by the Lo...
Archival Ink
Hanging Moss, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Hanging Moss, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by the Los Ang...
Archival Ink
Ghostlight, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Ghostlight, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by the Los Angel...
Archival Ink
Crossing, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Crossing, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by the Los Angeles...
Archival Ink
Egret in Flight, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Egret in Flight, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by the Los ...
Archival Ink
Cormorants, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Cormorants, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by the Los Angel...
Archival Ink
Camellia Flowers, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Camellia Flowers, limited edition photograph, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by the Los...
Archival Ink
Turner Clouds, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Turner Clouds, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by the...
Archival Ink
Swirls, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Swirls, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by the Los An...
Archival Ink
Sunken Weathervane, color photograph, signed and numbered, limited edition
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Sunken Weathervane, color photograph, signed and numbered, limited edition Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” b...
Archival Ink
Lone Pine, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Lone Pine, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by the Los...
Archival Ink
Laguna Salinas, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Laguna Salinas, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by th...
Archival Ink
Illuminated Tree, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Illuminated Tree, color photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” by ...
Archival Ink
Ibis on Clouds, color landscape photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Ibis on Clouds, color landscape photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordina...
Archival Ink
Flying V, color landscape photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Flying V, color landscape photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary” b...
Archival Ink
Bullrushes, color landscape photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Bullrushes, color landscape photograph, limited edition, signed and numbered Keith Carter’s work explores time, place, and vernacular culture. Described as a “Poet of the Ordinary”...
Archival Ink
H 48 in W 72 in
Signed Abstract Concrete Archival Pigment Print, 48x72\", 21st Century
By Frank Schott
Located in San Francisco, CA
Concrete by Frank Schott monochromatic details of architecture 48 x 72 inches / 122cm x 183cm edition of 7 signed 27 x 40 inches / 68cm x 102cm edition of 25 signed archival fine ...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment, Giclée
H 42 in W 28 in
"Bryant Park" New York, Giclee Print, Abstract Photography, Limited Edition
By Hatice Besun
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“Bryant Park” New York, Giclee Print, Limited Edition Creator: Hatice Besun Creation year: 2021 Dimension: 42 x 28 External Dimension( with white border) : Height: 43.6 inch Weigh...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Giclée, Archival Pigment
H 13 in W 19 in
Limited Edition Japanese Photography, #189 Yunoyani Village, Nigata Prefecture
By Toshio Shibata
Located in New york, NY
The photograph Toshio Shibata, #189 Yunoyani Village, Nigata Prefecture, 1989 by Japanese photographer Toshio Shibata is hand-signed (on recto) by the photographer. The 13" x 19" pri...
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Rag Paper, Pigment, Arc...
H 27 in W 39 in D 1 in
Crosshatch
Located in Plano, TX
" "Crosshatch" is a classic example of my abstract PhotoLuminism technique. When light travels, the human eye cannot see its trails, but the camera can. Capturing images that are int...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Black and White
H 14 in W 11 in
Tree, 1995
By Todd Burris
Located in Hudson, NY
Black and white, nature, trees, grainy, film, sky, nature, B&W, black and white photography, tree, Todd Burris, outdoors. Listing is for UNFRAMED print. Inquire within for framing. ...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper
Matador Smoke abstract photography - black and white series
By MAE Curates
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a series curated by gallery in Los Angeles. The subject matter of the work is a series of abstract photography of smoky swirls of light play, against a deep inky velvet hue o...
Archival Ink
Smoky Light Play Abstract Photography - Black and White Series
By MAE Curates
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a series curated by gallery in Los Angeles. The subject matter of the work is a series of abstract photography of smoky swirls of light play, against a deep inky velvet hue o...
Archival Ink
H 24 in W 36 in
"Silhouette" Into the Light, Abstract Photography, Giclee Print, Numbered
By Hatice Besun
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Creator: Hatice Besun Creation year: 2025 Dimension: 24 x 36" External Dimension( with white border) Height:25.6 in. Width:37.6 in Large Print In Edition of 20 + 2AP Certified Con...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Giclée, Archival Pigment
H 13 in W 19 in
Japan, Conceptual Photography by Tokihiro Sato, Photo-respiration 1998 Yura #340
By Tokihiro Sato
Located in New york, NY
Photo-respiration Yura #340, 1998 by Japanese artist Tokihiro Sato is a contemporary abstract photograph signed by the artist. Sato used a large-format camera for a long exposure ima...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Rag Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment, Digi...
H 9.85 in W 7.88 in D 0.04 in
Ghost Story - Contemporary, Figurative, Woman, Polaroid, 21st Centur
By Lisa Toboz
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Ghost Story - 2021 Archival Print based on an original Polaroid on Hahnemuhle photo rag paper. 25x20cm, Edition of 10 plus 2 Artist Proofs. Signature label and certificate. Not ...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment, Polaroid
H 16 in W 24 in
"Barbed Wire" The Frequency, Giclee Print, Abstract Photography, Limited Ed.
By Hatice Besun
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Barbed Wire" The Frequency, Giclee Print, Abstract Photography, Limited Ed. Creator: Hatice Besun Creation year: 2018 Dimension: 16 x 24” External Dimension( with white border) : H...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Giclée, Archival Pigment
H 11 in W 10 in
“She” The Frequency, Giclee Print, Abstract Photography, Limited Edition
By Hatice Besun
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“She” The Frequency, Giclee Print, Abstract Photography, Limited Edition Creator: Hatice Besun Creation year: 2015 Dimension: 11 x 10” External Dimension( with white border) : Heigh...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Giclée, Archival Pigment
H 16 in W 16 in
Atchafalaya Study #1
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Sante Fe, NM
This selection of images appear in my upcoming monograph scheduled for release fall of 2022 by the University of Texas Press. Ghostlight is an exploration of dark waters: the otherwo...
Archival Ink
H 17 in W 22 in D 0.1 in
Ojo
By Keith Carter b.1948
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 25 Signed, titled, dated and numbered. Paper size: 17 x 22 in., Image size: 16 x 20 in. Series: Ghostland Keith Carter is an American photographer who is known for his dr...
Archival Pigment