Chad States: Storyteller

Curator. SOLO Project Room, Consolidated Works, Seattle. 2003

Emerging artist Chad States spent four months creating a cohesive body of work for his first solo exhibition, Storytellers, consisting of large-scale photographs paired with accompanying audio recordings. The exhibition features seven photo-documentary style images of couples under the age of 30 who have been together for four years or more, capturing moments that convey intimacy, connection, and the rhythms of everyday life. States’ meticulous attention to composition and lighting emphasizes the individuality of each couple while presenting them as part of a larger reflection on contemporary relationships.

Accompanying the images are one-hour recordings in which the couples engage in candid, spontaneous dialogue about work, family, and shared cultural interests. These audio narratives deepen the viewer’s understanding of the photographs, creating a multi-sensory experience that foregrounds the hopes, trust, and faith of those in their mid-twenties as they envision a shared future. Through this synthesis of image and voice, Storytellers offers an intimate and nuanced exploration of young love, commitment, and the optimism that shapes the lives of a generation poised on the threshold of adulthood.