Jake Benzinger (he/him) is a photographer, book artist, and writer based in Rockland, Maine; he received his BFA in photography from Lesley University, College of Art and Design in Cambridge, MA. His work explores self-created mythos, weaving together imagery to navigate the space between fiction and reality—investigating themes of identity, mysticism, animism, and death.
His work has been shown nationally and internationally in solo and group exhibitions at the Griffin Museum of Photography, Haute Photographie Rotterdam, Center for Fine Art Photography, Glasgow Gallery of Photography, 82Parris, Panopticon Gallery, RIT City Space Gallery, and more. He has been featured by numerous platforms including GUP Magazine, Lensculture, Float Magazine, Lenscratch, Transference Magazine, and Fraction Magazine. His publications are held in collections at the National Gallery of Art, School of Visual Arts, and Griffin Museum of Photography, and his monograph, Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), was shortlisted for the 2023 Lucie Photobook Prize.
Jake is currently the assistant gallery manager, associate curator of photography, and curator of books at Blue Raven Gallery, a content editor for Lenscratch, and the founder/director of wych elm, an independent press creating small-run photo books, zines, and fine art ephemera.
His work has been shown nationally and internationally in solo and group exhibitions at the Griffin Museum of Photography, Haute Photographie Rotterdam, Center for Fine Art Photography, Glasgow Gallery of Photography, 82Parris, Panopticon Gallery, RIT City Space Gallery, and more. He has been featured by numerous platforms including GUP Magazine, Lensculture, Float Magazine, Lenscratch, Transference Magazine, and Fraction Magazine. His publications are held in collections at the National Gallery of Art, School of Visual Arts, and Griffin Museum of Photography, and his monograph, Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), was shortlisted for the 2023 Lucie Photobook Prize.
Jake is currently the assistant gallery manager, associate curator of photography, and curator of books at Blue Raven Gallery, a content editor for Lenscratch, and the founder/director of wych elm, an independent press creating small-run photo books, zines, and fine art ephemera.
Jake is open to shoots, commissions, exhibition opportunities, curatorial projects, workshops, and print inquiries.
For updates on Jake and his work, subscribe to his newsletter
Contact:
︎ jakebenzinger@gmail.com
CV
Education
2023
BFA with Great Distinction, Photography with Minor in Communication and Media Studies, Lesley University, College of Art and Design
BFA with Great Distinction, Photography with Minor in Communication and Media Studies, Lesley University, College of Art and Design
Solo Exhibitions
2023
Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), Griffin Museum of Photography @ WinCam, Winchester, MA
Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), Griffin Museum of Photography @ WinCam, Winchester, MA
Two and Three-Person Exhibitions
2025
The Woods Glow Past Midnight, with Tabitha Barnard, Gravedigger’s Daughter, Waldoboro, ME (Forthcoming)
2023
Hide and Seek, Thesis Exhibition, Roberts Gallery, Cambridge, MA
The Woods Glow Past Midnight, with Tabitha Barnard, Gravedigger’s Daughter, Waldoboro, ME (Forthcoming)
2023
Hide and Seek, Thesis Exhibition, Roberts Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Group Exhibitions
2025
Fresh Eyes, Haute Photographie Rotterdam, Rotterdam, NL (Forthcoming)
2024
Ghost Stories, Lenscratch, Online, Curated by Kellye Eisworth
Center Forward, Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO
Semblance, 82Parris, Portland, ME
2023
Homecoming, RIT City Space Gallery, Rochester, NY
CAA’s Mary Schein Fall Salon, Kathryn Schultz Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Identity, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Glasgow, UK
2023 PRC Student Exhibition, Panopticon Gallery, Boston, MA
2022
Winter Solstice 2022, Griffin Museum of Photography, Winchester, MA
Transformations, VanDernoot Gallery, Cambridge, MA
2022 PRC Student Exhibition, Panopticon Gallery, Boston, MA
2021
2021 PRC Student Exhibition, Panopticon Gallery, Boston, MA
2020
Fever Dream, Gallery South, Cambridge, MA
Fresh Eyes, Haute Photographie Rotterdam, Rotterdam, NL (Forthcoming)
2024
Ghost Stories, Lenscratch, Online, Curated by Kellye Eisworth
Center Forward, Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO
Semblance, 82Parris, Portland, ME
2023
Homecoming, RIT City Space Gallery, Rochester, NY
CAA’s Mary Schein Fall Salon, Kathryn Schultz Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Identity, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Glasgow, UK
2023 PRC Student Exhibition, Panopticon Gallery, Boston, MA
2022
Winter Solstice 2022, Griffin Museum of Photography, Winchester, MA
Transformations, VanDernoot Gallery, Cambridge, MA
2022 PRC Student Exhibition, Panopticon Gallery, Boston, MA
2021
2021 PRC Student Exhibition, Panopticon Gallery, Boston, MA
2020
Fever Dream, Gallery South, Cambridge, MA
Publications
2024
THE WOODS GLOW PAST MIDNIGHT, Collaborative Zine with Tabitha Barnard, Published by wych elm, 1st Edition of 100
drawing down the moon, Collaborative Zine with Sari Soininen, Published by wych elm, 1st Edition of 100
2023
Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), Self-Published Monograph, 2nd Edition of 50
Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), Self-Published Monograph, 1st Edition of 50
2021
Bloom, Self-Published Monograph, Edition of 30
2020
Dialogue, Self-Published Zine, Edition of 30
THE WOODS GLOW PAST MIDNIGHT, Collaborative Zine with Tabitha Barnard, Published by wych elm, 1st Edition of 100
drawing down the moon, Collaborative Zine with Sari Soininen, Published by wych elm, 1st Edition of 100
2023
Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), Self-Published Monograph, 2nd Edition of 50
Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), Self-Published Monograph, 1st Edition of 50
2021
Bloom, Self-Published Monograph, Edition of 30
2020
Dialogue, Self-Published Zine, Edition of 30
Press and Awards
2025
GUP Magazine, Fresh Eyes 2025, Portfolio Feature
2024
Lenscratch, Interview with Tabitha Barnard and Jake Benzinger: “Dead Trees Speak to Me” and Independent Photo Book Publishing, Interview
LensCulture, After the Embers Burn and Die, Portfolio Feature
Lenscratch, All About Zines: October Issue (THE WOODS GLOW PAST MIDNIGHT), Zine Feature
Float Magazine, Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), Book Review
SIP’s Sweet Somethings, Artists We’re Loving (vol.3), Portfolio Feature
Transference Magazine, After the Embers Burn and Die, Portfolio Feature
2023
WinCAM, Optics: Griffin Museum Featured Artist, Video Interview
Lucie Foundation, 2023 Lucie Photo Book Prize, Shortlist/Finalist
Fraction Magazine, Issue #171 - Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), Portfolio Feature and Interview
Griffin Museum of Photography, Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), Online Book Showcase
Lesley University, College of Art and Design, Senior Award for Excellence in Photography
2022
Lenscratch, The Favorite Photograph You Took in 2022, by Aline Smithson, Featured Photographer
Fraction Magazine, Issue #157 - 14th Anniversary Edition, Featured Photographer
New England Portfolio Review Student Scholarship
GUP Magazine, Fresh Eyes 2025, Portfolio Feature
2024
Lenscratch, Interview with Tabitha Barnard and Jake Benzinger: “Dead Trees Speak to Me” and Independent Photo Book Publishing, Interview
LensCulture, After the Embers Burn and Die, Portfolio Feature
Lenscratch, All About Zines: October Issue (THE WOODS GLOW PAST MIDNIGHT), Zine Feature
Float Magazine, Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), Book Review
SIP’s Sweet Somethings, Artists We’re Loving (vol.3), Portfolio Feature
Transference Magazine, After the Embers Burn and Die, Portfolio Feature
2023
WinCAM, Optics: Griffin Museum Featured Artist, Video Interview
Lucie Foundation, 2023 Lucie Photo Book Prize, Shortlist/Finalist
Fraction Magazine, Issue #171 - Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), Portfolio Feature and Interview
Griffin Museum of Photography, Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), Online Book Showcase
Lesley University, College of Art and Design, Senior Award for Excellence in Photography
2022
Lenscratch, The Favorite Photograph You Took in 2022, by Aline Smithson, Featured Photographer
Fraction Magazine, Issue #157 - 14th Anniversary Edition, Featured Photographer
New England Portfolio Review Student Scholarship
Artist Talks
2024
wych elm and Independent Book Publishing, Photo Books Class, Lesley University, Cambridge MA
Dead Trees Speak to Me, Collaborative with Tabitha Barnard, Gravedigger’s Daughter, Waldoboro, ME
Alumni Artist Talk, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
2023
Pictures and Words, Workshop with David Hilliard and Smith Galtney, Maine Media College and Workshops, Rockport, ME
Seven Minutes in Heaven, Curated by Dylan Hausthor, Luce Spirits, Rockland, ME
Maine Media Staff Lecture Series, Maine Media College and Workshops, Rockport, ME
Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
2022
Of Flora, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
wych elm and Independent Book Publishing, Photo Books Class, Lesley University, Cambridge MA
Dead Trees Speak to Me, Collaborative with Tabitha Barnard, Gravedigger’s Daughter, Waldoboro, ME
Alumni Artist Talk, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
2023
Pictures and Words, Workshop with David Hilliard and Smith Galtney, Maine Media College and Workshops, Rockport, ME
Seven Minutes in Heaven, Curated by Dylan Hausthor, Luce Spirits, Rockland, ME
Maine Media Staff Lecture Series, Maine Media College and Workshops, Rockport, ME
Like Dust Settling in a Dim-Lit Room (Or Starless Forest), Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
2022
Of Flora, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
Collections
National Gallery of Art
Griffin Museum of Photography
SVA Library
Lenscratch Articles
2024
Interview with Dylan Hausthor: What the Rain Might Bring, Interview
Interview with Owen McCarter and Drew Leventhal: The Three-Eyed Fish and Independent Photo Book Publishing, Interview
“Notes from a Body Inverted” by Emme Rovins - Exhibition at Gravedigger’s Daughter, Article
Jake Nemirovsky - “Big Bug”, Article
In the Woods, at the Dead of Night - Exhibition at Blue Raven Gallery, Article
Interview with Morganna Magee: Reverence for the Land, Animals, and People, Interview
Interview with Peah Guilmoth: The Search for Beauty and Escape, Interview
Interview with Kaitlin Santoro: Memory and Photographic Ephemera, Interview
In Conversation with Cig Harvey: Beauty, Books, and Installation, Interview
Interview with Kate Greene: Photographing What Is Unseen, Interview
Interview with Dylan Hausthor: The Barn, Queer Futurism, and New England Gas Stations, Interview
2023
Miho Kajioka - “so it goes, so it goes, so it goes”, Article
Interview with Sari Soininen: Transcendent Country of the Mind/Black Cat Kingdom, Interview
Interview with Dylan Hausthor: What the Rain Might Bring, Interview
Interview with Owen McCarter and Drew Leventhal: The Three-Eyed Fish and Independent Photo Book Publishing, Interview
“Notes from a Body Inverted” by Emme Rovins - Exhibition at Gravedigger’s Daughter, Article
Jake Nemirovsky - “Big Bug”, Article
In the Woods, at the Dead of Night - Exhibition at Blue Raven Gallery, Article
Interview with Morganna Magee: Reverence for the Land, Animals, and People, Interview
Interview with Peah Guilmoth: The Search for Beauty and Escape, Interview
Interview with Kaitlin Santoro: Memory and Photographic Ephemera, Interview
In Conversation with Cig Harvey: Beauty, Books, and Installation, Interview
Interview with Kate Greene: Photographing What Is Unseen, Interview
Interview with Dylan Hausthor: The Barn, Queer Futurism, and New England Gas Stations, Interview
2023
Miho Kajioka - “so it goes, so it goes, so it goes”, Article
Interview with Sari Soininen: Transcendent Country of the Mind/Black Cat Kingdom, Interview
Video Colorist
2023
With Your Whole Chest, Short Flim
©Jake Benzinger
©Jake Benzinger