Houston’s FotoFest International has announced the 34 participating artists for the 2016 edition of the US’s oldest photographic arts festival. The fair’s 16th edition will explore environmental issues such as climate changes, industrialization, biodiversity, and water.

“Confronting the ever-quickening pace of global change is a major challenge for humanity, and we must meet it with creativity and new thinking,” said FotoFest executive director Steven Evans in a statement. “[FotoFest] examines the dynamics of change and the potential for creative action as seen through the work of exhibiting artists, participating scientists and environmental thinkers.”

Mandy Barker, Hong Kong Soup: Spilt (2012). Representing 150 tons of nurdles, (pre-production pellets) spilled from a cargo container during Typhoon Vicente on 23rd July 2012, which adds to Hong Kong’s waste issues in the sea and on its beaches.
Photo: courtesy the artist.

Titled “Changing Circumstances: Looking at the Future of the Planet,” FotoFest 2016 is curated by Evans and FotoFest cofounders Wendy Watriss and Frederick Baldwin. Participants include Vik Muniz of Brazil, the UK’s Isaac Julien, and Canada’s Edward Burtynsky, who has spent 30 years documenting the effects of mining and other forms of industrialization around the world.

“These are artists who have engaged the natural world and humanity’s place in that world, over many years,” said Watriss of the selected artists in a statement.

Jamey Stillings, #10768, 25 June 2013, from the series “The Evolution of Ivanpah Solar.”
Photo: courtesy of the artist.

Central exhibitions will be held in four spaces across the city, centered around the newly established Washington Avenue Arts District, which boasts over 250 artist studios. There will also be over 100 independently-organized shows at various other venues.

The six-week-long biennial will include a full slate of artist talks, film screenings, and concerts, among other programming. Partnering arts and cultural groups will include the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and Ballroom Marfa, which will host Marfa Dialogues/Houston from March 24–26, 2016.

Dornith Doherty, Millennium Seed Bank Research Seedlings and Lochner-Stuppy Test Garden No. 4 (2011).
Photo: courtesy of the artist, Holly Johnson Gallery, Dallas, and Moody Gallery, Houston.

The full list of the participating artists is below:

Amy Balkin (USA)
Mandy Barker (UK)
Daniel Beltrá (Spain)
Atul Bhalla (India)
Edward Burtynsky (Canada)
Barbara Ciurej and Lindsay Lochman (USA)
Pedro David (Brazil)
Luis Delgado-Qualtrough (Mexico/USA)
Susan Derges (UK)
Nigel Dickinson (UK)
Dornith Doherty (USA)
David Doubilet (USA)
Peter Fend (USA)
Roberto Fernández Ibáñez (Uruguay)
Karen Glaser (USA)
Gina Glover (UK)
Ingo Günther (Germany/USA)
Niklas Goldbach (Gemany)
Lucy Helton (UK/USA)
Chris Jordan (USA)
Isaac Julien (UK)
David Liittschwager (USA)
Pablo López Luz (Mexico)
Vik Muniz (Brazil)
Robert Harding Pittman (Germany/USA)
Meridel Rubenstein (USA)
Joel Sartore (USA)
Evelyn Messinger and Kim Spencer (USA)
Toby Smith (UK)
Jamey Stillings (USA)
Martin Stupich (USA)
Brad Temkin (USA)

Susan Derges, Tide Pool 39 (2015).
Photo: courtesy of the artist and Purdy Hicks Gallery, London.

The FotoFest 2016 Biennial will take place in Houston, Texas, March 12–April 24, 2016.