Whitehot Magazine

Mariah Robertson stands out as one of the most inventive and revolutionary photographers of them all.

  Mariah Robertson, photo by Ruben Natal San-Miguel

 

By RUBEN NATAL SAN-MIGUEL April 8th, 2026

When discussing masters of abstract photography, names like Aaron Siskind, Wolfgang Tillmans, Thomas Ruff, Ellen Carey, Jessica Eaton, Penelope Umbrico, Barbara Kasten, Hiroshi Sugimoto, and Kim Keever immediately come to mind. However, in my opinion, Mariah Robertson stands out as one of the most inventive and revolutionary photographers of them all. 

In her current solo exhibition, Portraits, on view now at Chart Gallery in Tribeca, Robertson takes her work a step further by transforming abstract photographs into portrait paintings of them. To me, this exploration represents a new level of mystery and mastery. While the work sparks curiosity, there is a part of me that doesn't even want to look behind the curtain to see how the magic is made. Her Photograms (abstract photography) are mysteriously dynamic and seductively in motion, leaving the viewer to wonder how she achieves such precision in the darkroom.

 

Mariah Robertson, Portrait of 296, 2026 Acrylic on Aluminium, 126 x 96 inches, Courtesy of the artist and CHART
  

This magic is now elevated through her painting expressions on aluminum or wood panels surfaces . The process and results are fascinating, executed with the same brilliance found in her photography. While the photographs/photograms offer sharpness, rich color saturation, and a dynamic sense of motion, the painting versions add texture and depth. Both media possess three-dimensional qualities, but the paintings exacerbate these features, taking them into a deeper dimension. Whether standing alone or side-by-side like fraternal twins, both photos and their "portraits" are stunning.

Robertson’s explorations into painting, derived from abstract photography is next level. It places her firmly in the driving seat of what is new, beautiful, and fresh for the future of this art media.
 

Mariah Robertson, Unique C-print, 30x22 inches , Courtesy of the Artist and CHART 

 

Mariah Robertson, Portrait of 134, 2026, Acrylic on Aluminum, 24x18 Inches , Courtesy of the Artist and CHART 

 

Mariah Robertson, 109, 2025, Unique C-print, 30x26 Inches , Courtesy of the Artist and CHART 

 

Mariah Robertson, Portrait of 109, 2026, Acrylic on Aluminum, 60x48 Inches , Courtesy of the Artist and CHART

 

Ruben Natal-San Miguel

Ruben Natal-San Miguel is a New York based photographer published internationally.

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