The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts is set to debut a new exhibition by photography resident Dean Kessmann titled "realism succumbing to abstraction or is it the other way around" on April 18, 2026. The show features medium-format digital photographs captured during Kessmann’s sabbatical residency, focusing on the overlooked textures of urban landscapes such as sidewalks, graffiti, and signage. The exhibition includes unique physical presentations, with some works mounted on oriented strand board to mirror the industrial surfaces depicted in the images.
This exhibition highlights the importance of institutional residencies in fostering mid-career artistic development, marking Kessmann’s first formal residency in nearly twenty years. By bridging the gap between representational photography and formal abstraction, the project underscores a contemporary interest in the "miraculous in the ordinary." Kessmann’s academic background at George Washington University and his presence in major collections like the Hirshhorn and Walker Art Center bring significant professional prestige to the North Carolina-based arts center.