The AIPAD Photography Show, a major fair dedicated to fine art photography, took a refreshing turn by emphasizing craft and handmade processes. The event featured a notable shift away from purely digital and commercial photography, highlighting works that incorporate traditional techniques such as cyanotypes, photogravures, and hand-applied color. Galleries presented pieces that blurred the line between photography and other media, including mixed-media works and artist books, reflecting a growing interest in the tactile and artisanal aspects of the medium.
This focus on craft matters because it signals a broader trend in the art world toward valuing materiality and process over mass production and digital perfection. By championing handmade and labor-intensive works, AIPAD is responding to a cultural moment that prizes authenticity and the human touch. The show’s direction also challenges conventional definitions of photography, expanding its boundaries and appealing to collectors and curators seeking unique, object-based works in an increasingly digital age.