Elizabeth Jordan – 50 Grams

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BOSI Contemporary is pleased to present 50 Grams, a solo
exhibition by artist Elizabeth Jordan. This symbolic and powerful
exhibition features photographs taken in Russia, and is intended
to offer Jordan’s personal view into the country’s culture, its
traditions, textures, faces and landmarks.
Being an American of Russian descent, Jordan lived with her
family in Russia for 11 years. During this time she felt there was
nothing exotic about photographing something she saw everyday.
Now, almost 10 years later, Jordan returned back to Russia to
capture this familiar land through a new, romanticized lens — indicative of her emotionally resonant
images.
“I have focused my career on developing countries, namely Haiti and India. This is my first show
photographing Russia… Shooting in Russia as a mature woman gave me a different perspective from
the 21-year-old girl who moved there in 1993. It allowed me to ‘see’ something new when looking at
something I thought I knew well. It has changed my opinion on Russia and has helped me understand
the culture in a new way.”
Being the daughter of a photographer, Jordan has been involved with art since a young age. But, it
was meeting women on the streets of Rwanda that ignited her photography career, as well as her
journey across the globe. Jordan has since traveled to Russia, Burma, Bosnia, Ghana, Malawi, Thailand,
Rwanda, Kenya, Haiti, the Americas and India. She captures elements that are sometimes difficult to
see, yet powerful, and presents them in a “pop” art-style photography. She takes images of harsh or
tough subjects and exposes their softer side, making them beautiful and dignified rather than
abhorrent and hopeless – without diminishing the critical state of the subject itself.
Jordan has recently collaborated with Donna Karan, CEO and founder of Urban Zen, Zainab Salbi, CEO
and Founder of Women for Women International, and Maria Bello, actress and co-founder of We
Advance. Using her art to raise awareness for those living in war-torn countries, Jordan’s photography
has gone toward charity work and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. Proceeds have been
granted to causes such as Sabin Vaccine Institute, Reach to Teach, Gift of Life, Saint Peter’s Church,
Old Westbury Gardens, Right to Play, NSPCC, Aid for AIDS, NYU’s Ghana campus, We Advance, Carma
Foundation, Paul Khlebinikov Foundation, One Foundation, and Portledge School.
Jordan’s work has been recognized and featured in The New York Times, Vogue, Tatler Asia, and Digital
Photo Pro. In 2010 she was awarded Donna Karan’s Women who Inspire Award and in 2009 she
received the Graphic Professionals Resource Network Gold Award for superb craftsmanship and
production for her book on Rwanda.
50 Grams will also include two works by Michelle Ort. Proceeds from the sale of her photographs (in
edition of 50) will be donated to the NYU Advanced Study of Russia scholarship, a fund for emerging
women professionals in Russia.