TEACHER FEATURE // Elizabeth Waugh’s Beautiful, Disconcerting Photos

Fine art and fine dining! This Sunday, photographer and 3rd Ward instructor Elizabeth Waugh is throwing a dinner party of sorts to celebrate the release of her new book, "Pantheon." The June 12 event—tickets available here—features a five-course dinner prepared by chef Sung Uni Lee, as well as a gallery show of Waugh’s photos and live reading of the short stories in "Pantheon."

"Pantheon" is Waugh’s ninth annual book of fine art photography and short stories.  She describes it as "a curated experience of archetypes and myths" and "an intersection of the beautiful and disconcerting." She’s been putting together books since she was 17, and says, "Their production has been ritualistic for me."

The Chicago native studied Fine Art at the University of Southern California and honed her technical skills at Massachusetts’ Hallmark Institute of Photography before settling down in New York three years ago. Now, she says, "I have a studio in Brooklyn, and fashion clients such as Elie Tahari and Gilt Groupe. It's an amazing journey I'm on, and I am very grateful."

This fall, Waugh will be teaching a yearlong photography class at 3rd Ward called Branding Your Vision. She unreservedly calls teaching at 3rd Ward "the best thing in the world." Oh, we’re blushing.

-- Anastasia Friscia