Biography (b. 1969)
From the beginning of her photography career, AnnMarie gravitated to the portrait over any other subject matter. She chose physically attractive men and women to photograph, wanting to capture their beauty immortally on film, for, as an overweight woman, she wished to possess, in some way, that kind of beauty that was considered ideal by society's standards. Upon talking to her subjects, however, she learned that none of them felt confident in their appearance. With this epiphany, she then began photographing her self as she wanted to be seen - as beautiful. Through encouragement by her peers, as well as her, then new, job as an artists' model, a confidence grew within her and the act of photographing herself took precedence.
As time went on, her images began to change direction pointing more inward as she looks to resolve other personal issues in her life. AnnMarie sees herself as multi-faceted, with intertwined layers of emotional and physical beauty and turmoil, sometimes feathering the line of demarcation. Her work is narrative in nature and now, with working with other materials, has begun to push the envelope in how she wants to be perceived.
Her inspirations include the art of the Pre-Raphaelites, Symbolists, and Romanticists, and the photography of Julia Margaret Cameron and Francesca Woodman. Along those, music has also a profound effect on her work including Celtic and New Age works.
AnnMarie Tornabene graduated from Long Island University/CW Post in 1998 with a BFA in Photography, magna cum laude. She is an award-winning artist exhibiting and publishing her work internationally, as well as being reviewed in The New York Times, Newsday, other publications and Internet venues. She has been interviewed by women's organizations on the topic of body image in contemporary society. Essays and prose have been written as reactions to her photographs. She is in several collections all over the United States, Canada and the U.K.
Click here for my curriculum vitae
Special "thank you's" are in order here as without these people, I don't think my career nor my life would be as inspired and successful as it has been: Bernice Halpern-Cutler, Joan Harrison, Joan Powers, Christopher Lynn, Stacy Heller Budnick, art historian Dr. Stephen Lamia, and all my wonderful models that have helped realize my vision.
Extra special thank you goes to my husband, Al Rese - your love, support and strength is more than I can ask for. I love you.