John Mazlish

Intuition, Flow & Creativity

I didn’t set out to become a photographer. I started my creative career as a singer/songwriter playing gigs in local bars around New York City. But when I decided to sell an old Nikon camera to raise some cash and the sales person unexpectedly convinced me to buy a new camera instead, the photography bug grabbed hold with a vengeance. What began as a personal passion project rapidly blossomed into a new career. Learning creative ways of seeing and transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary images became a daily challenge and ritual.

I would characterize my photographic approach as intuitive and spontaneous. I want my work to feel alive, fresh & vibrant. Whether photographing a swirl of oil floating in the Gowanus Canal, a dynamic portrait of a musician, or the flow of a nude body in motion, my images aren’t about posing or perfection. Rather, their essence is based on originality, creativity and capturing the vibrant energy of the moment. I like to start with a basic concept and let the process unfold organically. My goal is to get into what I call “unexpected trouble”. I love taking risks and making mistakes. It’s easy to shoot lots of so-called “good” images. Creating exceptional images that might possibly be seen as works of art takes a willingness to shoot a lot of junk. Going for the magic moment means letting go of one’s ego and the need to control the outcome. As a dear musician friend of mine likes to say, we must “dare to suck” in order to soar.

Raised in a home surrounded by art, I credit my beloved mother- a gifted painter & musician- for helping to shape my aesthetic. She had a wonderful sense of color and form, and took joy in all forms of self-expression. I think that she very much impacted how I see the world- yet I wasn’t aware of her influence until I started taking pictures somewhat later in life. Now with the benefit of time, I can clearly see how she shared her passion with me by living the life of a true creator.

A painterly sense of light and form runs through my work, connecting abstraction, figure, and nature. My photography draws upon my musical background as well, where rhythm, improvisation, and intuition guide the creative process. The same well from which I draw my musical inspiration impacts how I see. It’s all ultimately interconnected.

Over time, my focus has expanded from nature photography and abstract composition to shooting fine art nudes. These sessions prioritize flow over direction- letting movement, emotion and an ever-changing play of light shape the images. I also work in mixed-media- collaborating with painters who overlay color and texture onto my photographs. I love seeing how other artists transform photographs into something completely fresh and original- often greater than the sum of their parts.

This openness and love of collaboration extends into my curatorial work as well. In 2020 I launched my own art gallery to support emerging artists and foster creative community. The gallery’s slogan is “Art With Heart”, and its stated goal is to treat artists with integrity, honesty and supportiveness. In other words, the same way that I wish to be treated.

In summary, whether behind the camera or with a guitar in hand, I strive to follow my intuition, trust in the creative process, and stay open to the magic inherently possible in every single moment of this gift called “life”.

http://www.johnmazlishfineart.com

http://www.mazlishgallery.com

CV:

Exhibitions 2025:

Aqua Art Fair, Miami Beach, Florida
Art Expo, NYC
Marcus Glitteris Group Show, NYC

Exhibitions 2024

B&W Photography show, One Art Space NYC
Aqua Art Fair, Miami Beach, Florida
Blanco Art Mansion Show, Bridgehampton, NY
Eddy Bogaert Mansion Show, Southampton, NY
B&W Photography Show, One Art Space, NYC

Exhibitions 2023

Affordable Art Fair, Mazlish Gallery, NYC
Hamptons Fine Art Fair, Mazlish Gallery, Southampton, NY
Aqua Art Fair, Mazlish Gallery, Miami Beach, Fla
B&W Photography Show, One Art Space, NYC

Exhibitions 2022

Emerge: Exhibition in collaboration w/SeeMe at the Blue Gallery, NYC
Rewind & Reflect: Collaboration w/John Herbert Wright, Blue Gallery NYC
Living Water: Happy Hour Gallery, Watermill, NY
Gallery Arte Azulejo: w/SeeMe, NYC

Exhibitions 2021

Blue Gallery, NYC
Mazlish Gallery, at The Invisible Dog Art Center
One Art Space, Tribeca, NY
Triangle Loft, Tribeca NYC

Exhibitions 2020

LagunaART Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
The White Room Gallery, “All The Places We Go”, Bridgehampton, NY.
Salomon Arts Gallery Amory Week Exhibition
One Art Space, Tribeca NYC

Exhibitions 2019

Art Wynwood, with European Design & Art Gallery
Art Naples, with European Design & Art Gallery
NYA Gallery grand opening, Tribeca
Art Expo NYC
The White Room Gallery, “Retro”, Bridgehampton NY
Summer gallery residency at Coastal Home, Bridgehampton, NY
Art Market, Bridgehampton NY, July 5-7
Reveal Art Fair, Saratoga Springs, July 18th-21st
Sotheby’s Art House, Sag Harbor, N.Y.
Gallery 104, NYC
Jar Of Hearts, Charity gallery fundraiser, collaboration with Krave Art, Miami, FL
Calligaris Furniture & Design, New York, NY

Exhibitions 2018

Saatchi Art/The Other Art Fair, Fall Edition, Brooklyn, NY
One Art Space, “All In Between”, Tribeca, NY
The White Room Gallery, “Balancing Act”, Bridgehampton, NY
Stella Flame Gallery, Sag Harbor, NY
Saatchi Art/The Other Art Fair, Spring Edition, Brooklyn, NY
SuperFine Art Fair, New York, NY
Design On A Dime, New York, NY
Planted Cafe, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

Online Galleries 2018-2025:

Artsy
1stDibs
Saatchi Art
Laguna Art
New York Art
IndieWalls
Artsper

PRESS

Art & Object Magazine: Photographer John Mazlish takes on Art Dealing
Sutton Place Social: April 2021: Artistry in the City: John Mazlish
Where Beauty Lies– Winston Wise Magazine- interview by Mandana Mapar
Renaissance Man of Carroll Gardens– BK Reader- interview by Michael Milton
Peerspace: 6 Best Landscape Photographers in NYC