Touching Strangers - Richard Renaldi 

Reginald and Nicole, 2007.

Richard Renaldi's portraits are honest and subtle. Reginald and Nicole posing for the 8x10'' view camera. They are on the street, maybe the boundary of a park. Reginald is confident, his arm rests on Nicole's leg and his hand clenches her knee. Nicole stares at the camera, both her arms on his shoulders. They have never met before.

In Touching Strangers Renaldi introduces an element that goes beyond traditional portraiture. Namely, the families, couples, siblings, and friends in these photographs are complete strangers to each other and to the photographer. The images have few clues that would point us towards this fact as the subjects that Renaldi has met on the streets
relate to each other emotionally and physically. The closeness captured is usually seen in family albums, although here it is the fruit of a first encounter. Although in most cases the interaction develops in the most natural way, some of the portraits barely hide an unspoken tension.

Richard Renaldi is an American photographer born in Chicago in 1968. His work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and Museums, including Yossi Milo Gallery and the International Center of Photography. He has published the books Figure and Ground, and Fall River Boys.

The opening of this exhibition is supported by Otley Brewing Company!
http://www.thirdfloorgallery.com/exhibitions.html#exhibition20