Jane Hilton is a photographer and filmmaker whose work brings to our attention the extraordinary realities of ordinary people's lives and is renowned for her work documenting American Culture, in particular the American West, which she has explored for the past twenty-five years.
Her monographs include "Dead Eagle Trail" (Schilt Pub, 2010) depicting the lifestyle of the twenty-first century cowboy; "Precious" (Schilt Pub, 2013) featuring intimate nude portraits of working girls in Nevada; and most recently "LA Gun Club" (self-published, 2016) exploring American Gun Culture with a collection of unique 'shot up' target posters.
LA Gun Club ©Jane Hilton
Jane is fascinated by subjects that are legal but not socially acceptable. In 2000 she was commissioned by the BBC to make a series of ten documentary films about two brothels in Nevada; "Love for Sale", the only state in America where prostitution is legal. Most recently she has spent the last eight years filming the 'The Last Lion Tamer' following a family's fight to save their lifestyle as the government intends to ban all wild animals performing in circuses.
Her ongoing project ‘Drag Queen Cowboys was short-listed for the Sony World Photography Awards 2021. It saw incredible performers collaborate with Jane to make a series of portraits. Inspired by Hollywood's portrayal of the Western genre, and 'The Misfits' (1961) written by Arthur Miller, starring Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. The series juxtaposes the romanticism of the West and its rugged cowboys, with its displacement of characters seen in this film. Stepping away from their natural habitat of clubs and bars, into the natural light of the American West, the series was shot on a 5x4 plate camera with black and white film, and no re-touching.
From the series: Chasing the Hummingbirds ©Jane Hilton
Returning to Vegas this year, the project has moved forward, morphing into Chasing The Hummingbirds a visual odyssey documenting the ambiguities which make this sub-culture so compelling. Gender is never a problem. It symbolises liberation and respect, challenging our assumptions and prejudices of the past.
Jane lives and works in London and has exhibited internationally. She was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society in 2014 and most recently chosen as one of the 'Hundred Heroines' representing internationally the most inspirational women in Photography today.
She has appeared in numerous major publications like The Sunday Times Magazine, The Telegraph Magazine and FT Magazine. Her work is widely collected and exhibited with recent solo shows: "LA Gun Club", Eleven Gallery, London (2016); "American Cowboy", Nailya Alexander Gallery, New York (2015); "Jane Hilton's America", Schilt Gallery, Amsterdam (2014); and group shows "The Scarlett Muse", Daniel Cooney Fine Art, New York (2016); "The Future Can Wait", Charlie Smith Gallery, London(2014); "Knock Knock", Jerwood Gallery, Hastings (2013).
www.janehilton.com
Generations: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors - Eve Kanner Kugler (b.1931) ©Jane Hilton
From the series: Dead Eagle Trail ©Jane Hilton
Edie, Chasing the Hummingbirds ©Jane Hilton
Fantasy Camp. Nevada, 2001. ©Jane Hilton
Bride and Groom. Las Vegas, Nevada ©Jane Hilton
God Less America. Los Angeles, 2001. ©Jane Hilton