Award-winning artist/photographer, Polly Norman has created a body of unique abstract photographs by photographing objects through Pennsylvania glass block.  Captured on black & white film, they are then manipulated using photogram techniques reminiscent of Maholy Nagy and Man Ray. These archival, processed prints are then hand colored using photo oils and pencils.  Norman, who says she loves warping images, invented this three-fold process.

“I’ve always been fascinated by shadows and reflected/refracted subjects becoming aberrant in appearance. I think they are more interesting and intriguing!  My images are anamorphic and exploit the beauty of redirected, tendered light.”

“Museum Louvre It of Leave It” Owner, Gary Fink recently purchased two of Norman’s pieces for the Museum’s permanent collection during the opening of “Choreographic” June 12, 2006 at Minnesota Center for
Photography. Her work was included in the Minnesota National Print Biennial Sept 12 - Nov 9 2006 at the Katherine Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota and was also exhibited in the Tweed Museum,
U of M, Duluth from Nov 21, 2006 - Feb 11, 2007.

Norman’s first International show took place at the Pingyao International Photography Festival, Pingyao, China, Sept 16 - 23, 2006. She is a past finalist for the McKnight Foundation Photography Fellowships and is newly represented by Perfect Pear Gallery, Chicago, Illinois. Norman's work was part of a group show Nov - Dec, 2006 at Perfect Pear and her solo show "Works in Motion" was on exhibit Aug 17 - Sept 11, 2007. In Minneapolis she is currently represented by Flanders Contemporary Art and had a show at Flanders May - June, 2007.

She was featured in the "PEOPLE" Section (pg 36), "Dancing Through Glass" October 2006 issue of Edina Magazine. Her piece, "Underwater Rampage" appeared in the premiere issue, September 2006 of "Metro Magazine" (pg 042), "TWIN CITIES ARTS SCENE".

Norman, who is also an abstract painter, attended the Atelier School of Fine Art for six years and did a two year mentorship with Art’s Educator, Maria Santiago (College of Visual Arts, Minneapolis) through the Women’s Art Registry of Minnesota (WARM) Mentor/Protégée Program.  Norman also studied abstract painting at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design (MCAD), Minneapolis.

Norman’s work in abstract photography has been critically acclaimed.  In the July 2, 2004 issue of The “Arizona Republic”, Roberta Burnett wrote, referring to “Transferred:  The Contemporary Art of Printmaking” show at MESA Contemporary Arts, “among my favorites are Polly Norman’s liquidly abstract Gathered Spirits.” Sue Canterbury, Assistant Curator of Painting for the MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS, purchased that piece. 

In the March 3, 2004 issue of “Pulse of the Twin Cities,” Will Conley wrote, “One of these images (in the New Photography show, ICEBOX Gallery, Minneapolis) the tumultuous and complex, ‘Madcap,’ was created by Polly Norman using a never-been-done, three-fold process of photography through glass…”

Rod Smith referred to one of her pieces titled, “The Slayer,” in an article that appeared in the March 24-30, 2004 issue of “City Pages,” as “an elegant Bellmeresque abstraction.”  Doug Hanson, Star Tribune Newspaper, Minneapolis, wrote in his review of the 2001 Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition, “Polly Norman keeps the spirit of Jackson Pollock alive.”