In conjunction with the exhibition Séance, presented at the Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery, photographer Shannon Taggart will discuss her work and the images on display.

For the past twenty years, American artist Shannon Taggart (born 1975) has documented Spiritualist practices and communities in the United States, England, and Europe. The resulting body of work, Séance, examines the relationship of Spiritualism to human celebrity, its connections to art, science, and technology, and its intrinsic bond with the medium of photography. This exhibition presents forty-seven haunting images from the series, revealing the emotional, psychological, and physical dimensions of Spiritualism in the 21st century.

Shannon Taggart is an artist and author based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her photographs have been exhibited and featured internationally, including within the publications TIME, New York Times Magazine, Discover, and Newsweek. Her work has been recognized by Nikon, Magnum Photos and the Inge Morath Foundation, American Photography and the Alexia Foundation for World Peace. Taggart’s monograph Séance (Fulgur Press, 2019) was listed as one of TIME magazine’s “Best Photobooks of 2019.”

This free event may be attended in person or online. Space at the Library Gallery will be limited to 35 people, and reservations may be made through this Google Form or on myUMBC. A link to the online presentation will be posted.

UMBC is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and is dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of the university community. Please check either this site or the Library Gallery’s site before visiting to ensure you’re seeing the latest information on hours and accessibility.