Strippers, wedding trucks and dinosaurs: the brilliant 50-year photography career of Ave Pildas

We first became aware of the work of photographer Ave Pildas thanks to his stunning series of monochrome nudes. Leafing through the rest of his archive is an utter joy; uncovering reams of brilliant and off-kilter images taken throughout the photographer’s busy 50-year career which show a knack for that all important “decisive moment.”

Ave grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and during the 1970s worked as art director for Hollywood’s Capitol Records, and went on to have his work shown at galleries including London’s Photographers’ Gallery, New York’s MoMA and Los Angeles’ Gallerie Diaframma.

His archive is packed with hilarious and thoughtfully composed works, and while his colour images foster a glow of nostalgia for a time we never even lived though, his monochromes are wonderfully striking and capture the unintentionally hilarious moments that pepper American life.

“My Animal Antics series documents my observations over forty years of humans all over the world interacting with animals,” Ave explains. “We love them as pets, revere them as creatures of nature, gawk at them in zoos, consume them as food, hunt them as sport, display them as trophies and adorn ourselves with their skins and fur.  They serve us in many ways. My subjects include not only living specimens, but also our representations of animals and monuments to them. The images are inspired by my love of animals plus the work of Nick Brandt, Elliot Erwitt and William Wegman.”

He adds: “Just drop me off somewhere, anywhere with a camera and I will find something to photograph.  My senses are tuned to observe all manner of quirky or unusual situations. Street photography exists as source of entertainment and wonder for me. If I shoot a good photo, it makes my day.”