Wendi’s rich and evocative style was influenced by the lush Southern environment of her youth. Raised in an artistic family in Memphis, she was profoundly influenced by visiting New Orleans as a child. She studied art and art history at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and then transferred to Newcomb College in New Orleans, where she studied drawing and painting with Hal Carney, Pat Trivigno and Franklin Adams.
She began photographing in New Orleans in 1984 as reference for the figurative oil paintings she was creating. Enamored with photography, but missing the sensual qualities of paint, she soon began painting on the photographs, finding a delicate balance between the surreal and realistic interpretation of the images.
At the same time, she was employed as a designer and copywriter for The Times-Picayune newspaper's Marketing department. While there, she produced the re-creation of The Picayune's Creole Cook Book - the classic 1901 cookbook, published in 1987. Soon after she moved to New York to pursue a career in photography.
Wendi has been commissioned for many fine art photographs, book covers, portraits, annual reports, editorial and advertising assignments. A major contributor to Hearst's Victoria Magazine, she also photographed for The Berkley Group, Penguin Putnam, Random House, Bantam, Simon & Schuster, St. Martin's Press, Little Brown & Co., Warner Books, Sony Records, Young & Rubicam and Florida Atlantic University among others. The artist's compositions have been included in gift books and on greeting cards.
Wendi's photographs have been exhibited internationally and are included in private collections around the world. Her work can be viewed at Reed Photo-Art Gallery in Denver and by appointment at the artist's studio in Denver, where she is making photographs for fine art and assignment and designing for the web.
Below are some articles about the artist and her work.
