Alison Rossiter
Artist Alison Rossiter sources expired photographic papers dating back to World War I to create “found photograms.” These small studies evoke moody landscapes, Abstract Expressionist paintings, and the earliest photographic experiments from the 1830s and ‘40s.

Some of the tones, patterns, colors, and textures come from her darkroom experiments pouring and pooling developer. Others reflect the history of the vintage paper, which has been exposed to light leaks over decades in its original packaging.
Kilbourn Acme Kruxo, exact expiration date unknown, about 1940s, processed 2013, 2013. Gelatin silver print, 5 x 7 in. The J. Paul Getty Museum, Purchased with funds provided by the Photographs Council. © Alison Rossiter

Haloid Platina, exact expiration date unknown, about 1915, processed 2010, 2010, Alison Rossiter. Gelatin silver print, 5 x 7 in. The J. Paul Getty Museum, Purchased with funds provided by the Photographs Council. © Alison Rossiter
Rossiter is one of seven contemporary artists featured in the exhibition Light, Paper, Process: Reinventing Photography.