The works of British-born artist Walead Beshty often develop through chance: materials are allowed to crack or tarnish during transit or installation; photographic records are made of discarded objects. His Travel Pictures (2006–07), a series of photographs of the former Iraqi diplomatic mission in East Berlin, taken years after the staff had relocated to the west of the city, display the distortions sustained by the film after it had been carried through airport X-ray machines. Despite global success, Beshty also remains committed to teaching and writing. He is currently Associate Professor in the Graduate Art Department of the Art Center College of Design, Pasadena.
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