Blondeau, Untitled (water abstraction), 1965-66

Barbara Blondeau died of cancer in 1974 at just 36, leaving behind a remarkably innovative and experimental body of photographic work. On the 50th anniversary of her passing, Stephen Daiter Gallery presented an exhibition and catalogue showcasing over forty vintage pieces—including photograms, collages, strip images, Lucite portraits, solarizations, and more—highlighting the scope and impact of her brief but influential career.

Blondeau studied painting at the Art Institute of Chicago before turning to photography under Kenneth Josephson and later Aaron Siskind at the Institute of Design, where she developed her signature in-camera "strip" photographs. A dedicated teacher at St. Mary’s College and the Philadelphia College of Art, she continued working with passion even after her cancer diagnosis. Her archive, preserved by the Visual Studies Workshop, is now represented by Stephen Daiter Gallery.