About
Jacob Wachal is a lens-based fine artist from Lexington, Kentucky. As a second-generation Filipino-American, he is heavily interested in exploring the intersections of his identity through his practice, especially in relation to the decolonization of the photographic image. His contemplative photographs and installed works explore overarching themes such as time, memory, and sense of place as they relate to his experiences within his own family, as well as within the Filipino diaspora in America. These works utilize historic and analog photographic and printing processes in reference to the implications of Western colonialism in photographic history, especially ethnographic practices conducted by Europeans and North Americans in Southeast Asia, as an act of reclamation of agency. Jacob graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BFA in Studio Art and is expected to graduate in 2023 from the Savannah College of Art and Design with an MFA in Photography.
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Education
2023 MFA Photography- Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
2018 BFA Studio Art, minor in Art History- University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (Magna Cum Laude, Five Time Dean’s List Recipient)
Selected Exhibitions
2023 Continent to Commonwealth: Asian/Asian American Kentucky Art (Group, Juried)-Kentucky State Capitol Rotunda, Lexington, KY
2023 Port City Review (Group, Juried)-Pei Ling Chan Gallery, Savannah, GA
2023 Artfields 2023 (Juried Competition)-177 N Accline, Lake City, SC
2023 Alternative Process and the Handmade Photograph (Group, Juried)-Atlanta Photography Group, Atlanta, GA
2023 #NewVisions2023 (Group, Juried by Elizabeth Turk)-Texas Photographic Society, Houston, TX
2023 MFA Thesis Showcase (Group, Curated by Brittany Richmond, Assistant Curator of SCAD Museum of Art)-Alexander Hall Gallery, Savannah, GA
2023 International Krappy Kamera Competition (Group, Juried by Yoav Friedlander)-Soho Photo Gallery, New York, NY
2022 Emerging Vision: Biennial Student Show (Group, Juried)- Colorado Photographic Arts Center, Denver, CO
2022 The Hand (Group, Juried)-Fenix Arts, Fayetteville, AR
2022 Art of the South (Group, Juried)-Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, TN
2022 Through The Body (Group, Juried)- Light Art Space, Silver City, NM
2022 Our Golden Coast (Group, Juried)- Sulfur Studios, Savannah, GA
2022 Click! (Group, Juried)- Village Theater Art Gallery, Danville, CA
2022 Still Life II (Group, Juried)- Chateau Art Gallery, Louisville, KY
2022 Framed: Trees & Water (Group, Juried)- Blackbox Gallery, Portland, OR
2022 Black & Blue (Group)- Cedar House Gallery, Savannah, GA
2021 White Elephant VII (Group, Juried)-Sulfur Studios, Savannah, GA
2021 Fall Open Studio (Group, Juried)-Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, GA
2019 November Spotlight: Artist of the Month (Solo)- North Lime Coffee & Donuts, Lexington, KY
2018 Susamang Mga Kolonya (Solo)- Bolivar Art Gallery, Lexington, KY
2018 Weighted (Group)- Three O Studio, Lexington, KY
2018 Digital Methods for Photography (Group, Juried)- The 90, Lexington, KY
2017 Carey Ellis Student Art Exhibition (Group, Juried)- Bolivar Art Gallery, Lexington, KY
2017 Alternative Process Works (Solo, Juried)- Robert C. May Gallery, Lexington, KY
2016 University Open (Group, Juried)- LexArts, Lexington, KY
2016 Biological Art II (Group, Curated by Dr. Ashley Seifert, Peggy Coots and Karl Lindstrom)- Mill & Max Gallery, Lexington, KY
2016 Explorations in Biology & Art (Group, Curated by Dr. Megan Seifert)- UK Ecological Research & Education Center, Lexington, KY
2015 Foundations Exhibition (Group, Juried)- Barnhart Gallery, Lexington, KY
Published Works
2023 “Isdang Dilat”, Port City Review
2022 “Handumanan sa Pamilya”, Photo Trouvée Issue 9, Family Archives
2022 “Tanday", The Hand Magazine Issue 37
2022 “Isdang Dilat”, Circles, a Boooooooom Photobook
2022 “Knurled Trunk, Widgeon Point” Exhibition Catalogue for Framed: Trees and Water, Blackbox Gallery, Portland OR
2022 “Bonsai Doktor II”, “Duga sa Calamansi”-Third Iris Zine no. 3, Nature
2020 “Kolonya I”- The Hand Magazine Issue 28
2016 “Self Portrait”, “Toilet Monster”- Shale Journal, Fall & Spring Edition
Work Experience
2022 Gallery Assistant-Laney Contemporary Fine Art, Savannah, GA
2022 Teaching Assistant to Professor Craig Stevens-SCAD, Savannah, GA
2021 Gallery/Multimedia Assistant- Sulfur Studios, Savannah, GA
2021 Peer Mentor- SCAD, Savannah, GA
2020 Automotive Photographer- Vaden Automotive, Savannah, GA
2019 Gallery Assistant/ Exhibition and Event Photographer- The Parachute Factory, Lexington, KY
2019 Photography Department Lab Monitor- School of Art & Visual Studies, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
2018 Society for Photographic Education Midwest Conference, Event Volunteer- University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
2018 Multimedia Marketing Assistant- Don Jacobs BMW, Volkswagen, Honda, Used Cars, Lexington, KY
2017 Photographer, Graphic Designer- Self-employed, Wachal Photo & Design
2016 Field/Lab Research Assistant to Dr. Craig Sargent- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Awards & Scholarships
2023 Art Photography Award Finalist, Lensculture
2023 Innovations in Imagemaking Award, Society for Photographic Education
2022 Jack Leigh Memorial Endowed Scholarship, SCAD
2021 Pete Christman Memorial Endowed Scholarship, SCAD
2020 Academic Honors Graduate Scholarship, SCAD
2020 Student Incentive Scholarship, SCAD
2020 Multicultural Graduate Scholarship, SCAD
2020 Student Achievement Graduate Scholarship, SCAD
2017 CFA Performance Based Scholarship, University of Kentucky
2014 William C. Parker Scholarship, University of Kentucky
2014 Molony Scholarship, University of Kentucky
Press
2023 “LensCulture’s Art Photography Awards 2023 – In Pictures”, The Guardian
2022 “Moment: Jacob Wachal”, Musee, Written in collaboration with editor Julia Borges
2022 “Handumanan sa Pamilya by Photographer Jacob Wachal”, Booooooom