Label TextBest known for his nude figure studies, Welpott’s oeuvre includes both portraits and
depictions of natural landscapes that show a great sensitivity to effects of light and the
depiction of space. The photographer rose to prominence in the Bay Area photography
community in the 1960s. He was a founding member of the San Francisco Art Institute's
influential photography program, where he taught for over three decades. At that time,
there were few photography courses or graduate programs in the medium offered in the
United States. Welpott fostered the talents of many aspiring photographers as an
educator, inspiring and influencing generations of students. “I like the process. The way
in which it holds together opposites: light and dark, beautiful and ugly, sublime and
banal.” He further defined his appreciation for photography’s unique relationship to
time, explaining, “I like the way it locks you into the moment, the eternal present.”
DimensionsOverall: 10 x 8 in. (25.4 x 20.3 cm)
Accession Number 2025.307
Classificationsphotograph
ProvenanceJeff Perry; Des Moines Art Center [gift from the previous, 2025]
Patrick Nagatani
1994/2001
