Background
David Hartwell is a Pasadena-based photographer. A British citizen, he was born and raised in French speaking Switzerland. David was formally trained as a photographer taking workshops given by such luminaries as Guy Le Querrec, Luc Chessex and Raymond Depardon before obtaining his BFA in 1991 from Art Center College of Design (Europe). He immigrated to the United States in 1991 where he cut his teeth working for pioneers of the burgeoning multimedia industry. He spent the next twenty-five years developing technical and historical content for the likes of IBM, Disney, Microsoft, History Channel, Discovery, and PBS. In his art, he uses technology and the technical skills he acquired in the commercial field to blur the lines between the world described by science, the world as it appears to us, and the world as we would like it to be. His photographs are constructions both in their making and figuratively. They challenge the audience to reevaluate their appreciation about how craft differs from art, if at all. His photography and artwork have shown at Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, Wende Museum, WUHO Gallery, Neutra VDL Studio and Residences, Louis Poulsen Los Angeles, Palm Springs Art Museum.
In 2019, David and fellow artist Bill Ferehawk were commissioned a series of large botanical portraits by the Cayman National Gallery. Bringing their portable studio to the mangrove, they captured the native and endemic plants of the archipelago in their most intimate settings. Homegrown was on display at the museum in George Town, 21 Jan – 12 Apr 2021. The series was acquired by the Museum as part of their National Collection. David’s plant photography was also shown at the National Museum of China during the 5th International Art and Science Symposium and Exhibition (TASIES 2019) organized by Tsinghua University, Beijing.
In February 2025, David was awarded 1st prize winner of International Garden Photographer of the Year competition in the portfolio category by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in partnership with the Royal Photographic Society. His series “A Cast of Characters” will be traveling throughout the UK and Italy as part of a group show with fellow laureates.
David and his wife Sarah managed the Richard Neutra VDL Studio and Residences historical building in Los Angeles from 2007 to 2020. Their restoration work on the building and gardens was recognized by the U.S. Department of the Interior, naming the house a National Landmark in 2017.
Education
1986-1987 Centre d’Enseignement Photographique Professionel, Switzerland
1988-1991 BFA Art Center College of Design (Europe), Switzerland
Selected Art Projects
A Cast of Characters (2025)
First Prize and Gold Medal in Portfolio Category.
International Garden Photographer of the Year.
Kew Gardens and Royal Photographic Society.
Botanical Portraits, group show
February 15, 2025 — March 16, 2025
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. London, UK.
IGPOTY website
Traveling Exhibit:
April 1, 2025 to November 9, 2025
The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle
Merano, Italy
July 9, 2025 to September 8, 2025
Walmer Castle And Gardens
Deal, Kent. UK
July 9, 2025 to September 8, 2025
Blenheim Palace
Woodstock, Oxforshire. UK.
April 15, 2025 to September 8, 2025
Dundee Heritage Trust
Dundee, Scotland
June 27, 2025 to August 27, 2025
National Trust Stourhead
Stourhead Near Mere, Wiltshire.UK
May 14, 2025 to June 30, 2025
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Birmingham. UK
March 28, 2025 to May 26, 2025
National Trust Belton Estate
Grantham, Lincolnshire. UK.
March 21, 2025 to May 7, 2025
Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Cambridge. UK.
Circle of Confusion (2023) – Botanical Portraits
October 14th – November 17th, 2023
Helms Design Center, Culver City
Solo Show
Press Release
A Powerful Change (2023) – Photography
Milano Green Forum Museum
In Collaboration with Association Compàz
Press Release
Terra Botanica (2021) – Depictions of Nature from The National Collection
Cayman National Gallery, George Town, Cayman Islands
Artists: David Hartwell and Bill Ferehawk
Museum Press Release
Homegrown (2021) – Photography
(commissioned 2019, on display 2021)
Cayman National Gallery, George Town, Cayman Islands
Artists: David Hartwell and Bill Ferehawk
Museum Press Release
Watt is Art (2021) – Photography
EPFL Pavillions, Lausanne, Switzerland
Artists: David Hartwell, Association Compàz
EPFL Pavillions Press Release
Watt is Art (2020) – Photography
Espace Shilling, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Artists: David Hartwell, Association Compàz
Photo-synthesis (2019) – Photography
5th Art and Science International Exhibition and Symposium
National Museum of China and 798 Arts District, Beijing
Artists: David Hartwell, Association Compàz
SwissNex Press Release
Go West, Young Man (2019) – Landscape Photography
Louis Poulsen showroom and gallery, Los Angeles
Artist: David Hartwell
Vessel of Change (2017) – Video Installation
The Wende Museum at The Armory, Culver City, California
Artists: David Hartwell and Bill Ferehawk
Easy Reader News Article
Median (2016) – Video Installation
WUHO Gallery, Los Angeles
Artists: David Hartwell and Bill Ferehawk
Archinect Article
Competing Utopias (2014) – Installation
Neutra VDL Studio and Residences, Los Angeles
Curators: David Hartwell, Bill Ferehawk, Justin Jampol, Sarah Lorenzen, and Patrick Mansfield
KCRW Article
Somewhere There Hides a Well (2011) – Video Installation
The Architecture of Donald Wexler
Palm Springs Art Museum, California
Artists: David Hartwell and Sarah Lorenzen
Archinect Article