“From museums to magazines.” That’s the mission statement of senior photography student Augusto Silva Alliegro. As one of the premier fashion photographers at SCAD, Augusto’s work balances the scales of fine art and commercial. He possesses a vision and style that is malleable to creative direction, yet still distinctly his.
With plans to end his senior year on a more personal note, Augusto now prepares for his upcoming exhibition “Here Now,” a collection of photographs that visually describe his growth over the past four years in relation to the subjects of masculinity and youth culture. The exhibition will kick off at 6:00 p.m. with a reception at the Oglethorpe Gallery on Friday, May 4. In anticipation of the show, The Manor got the chance to sit down with Augusto and chat a little bit about his experience at SCAD, his artistic breakthroughs, and his plans for the future.
Let’s start from the very beginning. Where are you originally from? How do you think your home and upbringing influenced your decision to pursue photography?
Caracas, Venezuela. The culture in Venezuela is definitely very different than here. There were no opportunities for me to study photography professionally there. If I had stayed, I probably would’ve gone to school for psychology or communications, which truly isn’t that far from what I do in my work now. I just knew I wanted to be visually impactful; I wanted to take photos and have them affect people. So, at fourteen I enrolled in a photography school back home. But because of the political situation in Venezuela, it was not a safe place for me to be myself. Also, I just wanted a change. The decision to come to SCAD was a professional one; if I wanted to be successful, I knew I had to leave.
I think a lot of people can relate to making their decision to come to SCAD as a professional over personal choice. With that being said, how has your experience here been?
I would say it has been overall really successful. You know, there were maybe some classes I didn’t like, for instance, drawing. Photography is a craft where can capture a moment in time without the handiwork of rendering. I took advantage of a lot of opportunities here, like internships. My first was in Los Angeles the summer after my Freshman year with a brand called Objects Without Meaning. The next summer, I went to New York for a production company called Art Partner. There, I got to be on set and really learn the ins and outs of the business and how fast paced it is. My third internship was this past summer with photographer Ryan McGinley. Really, what I think is so amazing about SCAD is the collaboration that happens here. Being able to work with people in different fields to produce content is what the fashion industry is all about.
Collaboration really is key. So, if you had the choice of your dream collaboration or dream shoot, what would it be?
My work is definitely defined more about who I’m working with, regardless of what I’m actually shooting. Honestly, if I could have an industry level shoot with the people I’ve worked with here at SCAD, that would be the dream. To produce something big with the people you’ve grown with as an artist and to see them also make it big is a dream. As long as the people I’m working on set with are good, then the shoot is going to be amazing. I think that’s why a lot of photographers consistently use the same stylists and creative directors because they know that the content will also be superb. But, you know, if I did have my choice of one dream person to shoot, it would be Tilda Swinton because, I mean, she is gorgeous.
I think we all have that one dream, the pinnacle of “making it.” However, do you think you have already had some artistic breakthrough that has really allowed you to distinctly define yourself and your work?
Yes and no; I have always loved fashion because of the thrill and excitement of it. I always want to do advertising campaigns that remain conceptual and true to who I am. Even with the most beautiful image, it’s so important to have a strong concept. I guess there’s not really a certain moment that I can define myself with. With every shoot, I grow a little bit more, and I still have so much left to learn. I think in terms of success, I can’t define myself as “successful” yet. There’s definitely been validation, but I still have a really long way to go.
So would you say you’ve established a mission statement for your work?
I’m not sure; I would say every image serves a different purpose, and communicating a concept is always more effective in several images. I wouldn’t say I have a definite message yet. Since I work in fashion photography, each shoot portrays a different concept. Lately, with my fashion work, I have pushed to make it humorously and absurdly sexual. My personal work, however, is basically like a self-portrait but relatable to the public. It’s like a combination of personal intentions and style. This is really evident in “Here Now.” It deals with masculinity and youth; it shows how I have evolved and who I’ve become within the past four years.
I feel like it’s so important to have a body of work that serves as a self-portrait. With that being said, is there anything else you want to say about working in fashion photography? Maybe any advice to aspiring fashion photographers?
Again, collaborating is amazing in fashion photography because it’s always good to meet people and make connections. However, it doesn’t always go well, and you’ll soon realize who you like working with. It’s nice to find people who give you creative freedom or whose vision matches yours, but that’s not always the case. Finding a center point in all of that is important. Also, the fashion industry is fast-paced. I learned that when working at Art Partner in a campaign with Valentino. With Ryan McGinley as well, there was a really quick turn around period with retouching, so time management was so important. That’s another thing if you want high-quality work you need to spend quality time working. I always need my images to rest for a few days before going back in and retouching it and making them the absolute best they can be.
That’s probably the best advice you can give to any artist and any field: time management. Okay, so now the dreaded question that I’m obligated to ask. Now that you’re graduating, what are your plans for the future?
Ugh, stop! I’m sad that it’s ending because SCAD has literally been the best experience. So, I’m staying in Savannah until July because I, of course, need a little break after graduation. I’m planning on applying for jobs in New York and moving up there. Hopefully, I’ll land an assisting gig, working hands-on with a photographer or in a studio. I really want to learn more and work on the side doing freelance projects because that’s how you make a name for yourself. I’m just gonna work really really hard; I have to always be shooting and working in order to make it. I could possibly get a job with a magazine, which I’d be happy with. But for the long-term future, solely doing freelance work is the dream. With that, I want to do advertisement but art-level advertisement. It’s the place where fine art meets commercial. My work needs to be art and look like art and still serve a purpose in a publication. I want to produce work that can be seen on the walls of a museum or the cover of a magazine.
To view more of Augusto’s work, visit his website and Instagram.
Written by Kat Sours
Photos courtesy of Augusto Silva Alliegro