Laura Noel Honored with APG/High Museum Purchase Award

Atlanta-based photographer Laura Noel (see image above) has been named recipient of the Atlanta Photography Group/High Museum of Art Purchase Award for 2014-2015. 

The High Museum will receive five photographs from Noel's Smoke Break portfolio for its permanent collection as a result of this award.

Noel's selection came after an extensive search process that began when Richard McCabe, Curator of Photography at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans, chose the work of eight photographers from a national call for entries for the APG Portfolio 2014 Show. 

The award will be presented formally by Abbott to Noel at a special celebration hosted by the Atlanta Photography Group on Tuesday, September 1st, at the APG Gallery in the Tula Art Center, 75 Bennett Street NW, in downtown Atlanta.

Abbot describes Noel's work in this portfolio as documenting "the attitudes of those who continue to smoke in the face of society’s widespread disapproval of the habit." 

Abbot goes on:

"The individuals are photographed in moments of contemplation, either briefly escaping from a workplace to smoke or relaxing with a cigarette within the comfort of their own homes and yards. 

"Noel’s work is a terrific complement to our growing collection of contemporary photography, and particularly to our strong collection of work by Southern artists."

I've been a big fan of Noel's work for years, as long-time readers of this blog will affirm, and I'm delighted to see her receive this honor. 

Noel's selection for this award confirms her reputation as one of the most important fine art photographers working in the South today.  

Good to see the High Museum recognizing the importance of Noel's work, and the work of Southern photographers, in their plans for developing their already outstanding collection of fine art photographs.