SUBJECTS

Grid of 20 black-and-white portraits of diverse individuals seated against a black background with dramatic lighting.

We speak so much about what breaks our hearts, but never about what makes them. What bolsters our sense of self? What roots us to the earth? What gives us a sense of place and a sense of our place in this wide, wide world? There are innumerable answers to these questions, yet we still ask them. The right answer for us shifts daily, really with each moment. What grounded us yesterday can upend us tomorrow. 

But one thing is constant - the insistence of existence. Each day, consciously or not, we insist on continuing on. Sometimes we just survive, sometimes we thrive. Through APPARATUS we bring whatever bounty we find within ourselves out into the world. Yes, we design objects - tools for living. But if we are a machine, our energy source is the people who inspire us. 

So how do we honor them? By speaking their names, acknowledging their impact, and celebrating their agency as creative beings. Sure, you can leave one of our galleries with a beautiful object that serves a beautifully simple function. But you can also leave with empty hands and a full head or heart. Often, it is that which we cannot hold in our hands which matters most.

  • EXPLORE CYLINDER : SYSTEM

PORTRAITS BY MATTHEW PLACEK AND DINA LITOVSKY

  • Black and white portrait of a curly-haired woman wearing a sheer shirt and boots, holding a camera and looking forward
  • Black and white photo of a woman with curly hair kneeling on a pedestal holding a camera under spotlights
  • Close-up of a woman with curly hair having makeup applied to her eyebrow by a person in a dimly lit setting
  • Woman with curly hair in sheer black outfit sitting on white cube holding a camera under overhead studio lights
  • Man with curly hair and beard posing with one leg raised, wearing black roller skates and a white shirt against dark background
  • Side profile of a man with curly hair and beard focused on a camera mounted on a tripod against a green background
  • Black and white image of a shirtless man in wide pants and an open shirt roller skating indoors under ceiling spotlights
  • Black and white portrait of a shirtless man with curly hair holding a vintage camera up to his eye against a plain background
  • Black and white image of a person’s leg in sheer tights and pointed high heel resting on stacked plates, with tattooed arm visible
  • Black and white image of a woman in bodysuit and heels posing with stacks of round plates under pendant spotlights
  • Group of women in black sheer and opaque hosiery standing in strong light casting long shadows on a neutral floor
  • Multiple overlapping exposures of a woman in a black dress dancing with expressive arm and head movements against a muted background
  • Single shirtless dancer with muscular build posed with arms raised against a green gradient background under ceiling lights
  • Shirtless man looking into a vanity mirror framed by illuminated round bulbs with a photographer reflected behind him
  • Black and white image of a shirtless male dancer with arms raised under modern ceiling spotlights
  • Black and white photo of a shirtless man in black pants posing with arms extended and head tilted back against plain background
  • Black and white image of a man with glasses writing on a white surface under a modern hanging spotlight.
  • Black and white image of a man standing behind a white counter under two modern pendant lights against a plain background
  • Close-up of a man's face partially obscured by shadow with soft focus and warm lighting effects
  • Man in dark clothing holding a translucent triangular ruler in a dimly lit room with hanging weights and scientific equipment
  • Portrait of a woman with short curly hair wearing a black dress and fur stole, illuminated by warm yellow light
  • Side profile of a woman illuminated by warm light against a pink background with her reflection visible nearby
  • Black and white portrait of a woman seated cross-legged under two hanging spotlights against a plain background
  • Black and white portrait of a person with short hair wrapped in a textured fur coat, seated with knees drawn up.
  • Black and white portrait of a person with straight hair covering the face, wearing a fitted long-sleeve top against a neutral background.
  • Black and white photo of three people standing on a white circular platform with a seated dog on a lit spot nearby and hanging lights above.
  • Two women with black hair and red lipstick partially illuminated against a dark background with dramatic shadows
  • Group of three people with focused expressions standing under three black pendant lights against a teal background
  • Portrait of two men with beards wearing dark textured leather jackets against a black background
  • Close-up portrait of a man with a mustache and short hair, partially obscured by soft focus foliage in dark lighting
  • Black and white photo of two men in leather jackets standing closely under four angled spotlights with smoke in the background
  • Black and white portrait of two men wearing textured leather jackets surrounded by swirling smoke against a dark background
  • Black and white portrait of a woman and a man seated side by side with their reflections visible on a glossy surface.
  • Black and white portrait of a man and woman seated at a reflective table with three sculptural figurines and ceiling lights above.
  • Portrait of a serious middle-aged man in a suit against a blurred blue background with abstract shapes.
  • Blurred artistic portrait of a woman with dark hair and red clothing against a black background
  • Portrait of a woman wearing a dark headwrap and gold hoop earrings reflected in a mirror against a dark background
  • Portrait of a woman in shadow wearing a blue headwrap, gold pearl earring, and textured yellow garment against black background
  • Black and white image of a woman wearing a headwrap leaning on stacks of books under two hanging cylindrical lights.
  • Black and white portrait of a woman wearing a headwrap leaning on a tall stack of books with two pendant lights above.
  • Black and white portrait of a man wearing a dark shirt, looking to the side with three hands holding his arms.
  • Black and white photo of a man illuminated by overhead spotlights, holding hands with two silhouetted figures on each side
  • Portrait of a man with intense expression partially covered by overlapping hands in dramatic low lighting
  • Three men in dark clothing standing close together under warm overhead lights in a dimly lit room
  • Woman with voluminous curly blonde hair wearing black outfit and red lipstick posing against a neutral backdrop
  • Back view of a person with voluminous curly blonde hair wearing a bright red plush jacket against a black background
  • Black and white photo of a woman in a white dress and fur coat styled by three people adjusting her hair, makeup, and outfit
  • Black and white portrait of a woman with voluminous curly hair being styled and made up by multiple hands
  • Black and white portrait of a man sitting with hand on chin and a partially visible person standing behind against a plain background
  • Black and white photo of three people posing with dramatic lighting and modern pendant lights overhead
  • Three people posing against a large circular light backdrop with a photographer adjusting settings on the right side
  • Portrait of two people with blurred motion effect, one wearing green and the other in orange, against a yellow background
  • Woman with styled hair and red nails wearing a black and white polka dot skirt leaning on a metal ladder in dim lighting
  • Close-up of crossed legs wearing black high-heeled shoes with ankle straps against moody background with pendant lights and shadows
  • Black and white image of a woman in a polka dot dress adjusting a spotlight while standing on a metal ladder against a plain background
  • Black and white portrait of a woman leaning on a metal ladder wearing a polka dot dress against a plain background
  • Black and white portrait of a woman with long wavy hair holding a wooden spoon in a ceramic bowl against a plain background
  • Black and white image of a barefoot woman standing beside abstract ink painting with spilled paint on the floor beneath hanging lights
  • Blurred close-up of a woman with curly hair and a colorful top against a dark background
  • Woman with wavy hair standing in green and yellow gradient light under three cylindrical pendant lights
  • Man wearing dark sunglasses and a white shirt holding papers in a dimly lit modern interior space
  • Man in white suit examining printed sketches displayed on a wall and scattered on the floor under warm overhead lights
  • Black and white image of a man in light clothing holding a sketchbook and angled drawings pinned and scattered on floor and wall
  • Black and white image of a man studying storyboard sketches pinned on a wall while holding papers and a pen
  • Black and white photo of two tattooed men wearing underwear, one kneeling on a bed while the other lies down with legs bent
  • Black and white photo of two tattooed men in underwear, one holding a camera and the other reclining on a bed under pendant lights.
  • Artistic photograph of two tattooed men in white underwear and socks, with dramatic shadows and blurred yellow lighting effects
  • Shirtless man with tattoos reclining on white surface under greenish light with shadows and hanging metal tubes above
  • Portrait of a person with short hair wearing layered gold chains and earrings, illuminated by red and green lighting on a dark background
  • Side view of a woman with slicked-back hair lying on the floor singing into a microphone under colorful lighting
  • Black and white photo of a woman in a black dress singing into a microphone with dramatic spotlight and overhead lights
  • Black and white photo of a woman with slicked-back hair holding a microphone and singing with closed eyes against a plain backdrop
  • Black and white portrait of a man in a velvet suit conducting with a baton against a minimalist background
  • Black and white image of a man in a suit standing on a round pedestal under a modern ceiling light casting shadows
  • Shadow of a person in a dynamic pose cast on a bright red wall with ceiling-mounted track lights above.
  • Dramatic low-light portrait of a conductor passionately leading with a baton against a dark background
Close-up of various modern metallic pendant and spotlight fixtures with dark bronze finish against a black background

  • EXPLORE CYLINDER SERIES