VCP’s PRINT GALLERY
April 2026 Featured Artist:
Big Beautiful Country by Owen Bigler
Exhibition Dates: April 1 – 29, 2026
Artist Statement
My whole life, I have always enjoyed exploring. Growing up in Connecticut, I found solitude exploring the state’s many parks and forests. I loved finding a random trail and seeing where it would take me. It made a small state feel that much bigger. But it wasn’t until I drove across the country for the first time that I realized how vast this country truly was.
Big Beautiful Country is a collection of photos from these travels across the United States. The prospect of traveling from Connecticut across the country seemed like a huge feat to me. But after a successful first trip that lasted two months and spanned 15,000 miles, I was intrigued. The idea that I could drive a few days and be in a completely different world fascinated me. It echoed my time exploring Connecticut, but on a much larger scale. The variety of landscapes in this country were exciting and convinced me we truly have something special.
In total, I spent roughly 6 months driving across the country divided between three different trips. These twelve photos are snapshots of those trips. They include images from my first trip in 2021, to my most recent trip to Alaska in 2025. All were shot on 35mm film.
About The Artist:
Owen Bigler is a photographer from Simsbury, Connecticut who has an affinity for black and white film photography and the natural world. His Instagram is @owenbigler
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How To Have Your Work Featured:
To have a featured 1-month exhibition in VCP’s Print Gallery, participants must be a current VCP member and fill out the online exhibition proposal form (please choose the “VCP’s Print Gallery” option within the form) here: https://vcphoto.org/exhibits/propose-an-exhibit/ If you would like us to consider your work for a show and are not currently a member, we invite you to join today! You can sign up to be a VCP member online HERE.
There is no cost or fee to show your work in the Print Gallery. If you need your work printed for your exhibition, VCP would be happy to offer you our fine-art printing services at a discounted rate.
Work is encouraged to be available for purchase. VCP retains 40% of any artwork sales during the exhibition.
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