Eric Mencher

Eric Mencher is a documentary photographer working on street photography and long term projects, including life in the Maya villages of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, and religious traditions in Antigua, Guatemala. Previously, Mencher was a photojournalist at The Philadelphia Inquirer, covering assignments like the post-apartheid era in South Africa, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, and the civil war in Chechnya. He also photographed numerous stories in the arts, including the 100th anniversary of James Joyce's Ulysses. Mencher received the Overseas Press Club Award for "Rwanda: Aftermath of Genocide" and has won other major awards, including prizes in World Press Photo. His fellowships include a Penn State University Professional in Residence Fellowship and a Terra Fellowship in Giverny, France. Eric collaborates on projects with his wife, Kass Mencher, including a series titled "Duets", which they’ve exhibited nationally and internationally.

Education

1977: BA Political Science
The University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla.

Select Exhibitions

2019: “Perspectives” group show, Photoville, NYC
2019: “Instagramland” group show, The Perfect Exposure Gallery, Alhambra, CA 2018: “Perros Sueltos” group show, Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo, Buenos Aires
2017: “A Tale of Cities” group show, Museu da Imagem e do Som, Sao Paulo, Brazil
2017: “Water” group show, Indian Photo Festival, Hyderabad, India
2015: “iPhone: Guatemala” projection exhibition, Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Ballarat, Australia
2015: “Hikari Creative” group show, N.6 Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2015: “Out of the Phone” group show, Little Big Galerie, Paris, France
2014: “Out of the Phone” group show, La Chambre Claire Gallery
2014: “Out of the Phone” group show, Brentwood Road Gallery, East London
2014: “Companions” two person show, Jannus Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2014: “777 Instagram Photos” solo show, Photo Lounge, Philadelphia, PA
2014: “Perspectives on Peace” group show, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
2014: “Duets” two person show, Galeria Meson Panza Verde, Antigua, Guatemala
2010: “Silver” group show, Gallery 612, Haddon Heights, NJ
2009: “Philly Salon” group show, Robin Rice Gallery, New York City
2008: “Summertime Salon” group show, Robin Rice Gallery, New York City
2007: “Summertime Salon” group show, Robin Rice Gallery, New York City
2005: “Africa” group exhibition, Constitution Center, Philadelphia
2005: “Bloomsday” solo show, Rosenbach Museum, Philadelphia
2004: “Inquiring Eyes” group show, Wallingford Arts Center
2004: “Bloomsday” solo show, Havemeyer Gallery, Philadelphia
2004: “Lincoln Highway” group show, Westmoreland Museum of American Art
2003: “Inquiring Eyes” group show, Philadelphia Museum of Art
2002: “Companions” two person show, Fototeca de Cuba, Havana
1997: “Six Weeks in Giverny” group show, University of the Arts, Philadelphia
1997: “Art of the State” juried show, State Museum of Pa., Harrisburg, Pa.
1997: “To Look For America”, Annenberg Center, Philadelphia, Pa.
1996: “Six Weeks in Giverny”, Museum of American Art, Giverny, France
1996: “2Up” juried show, The Art Alliance, Philadelphia
1993: “Photography 16”, Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ

Select Awards and Honors

2009: Sal di Marco Lifetime Achievement in Photography Award from Society of Professional Journalists
2009: National Headliners Award (group award) for Please Touch Museum
2006: Best of Photojournalism, Third Place, (General News), “Terri Schiavo”
2006: Pictures of the Year, Third Place, (Feature, online), “Dali in the City”
2004: Best of Photojournalism, Honorable Mention: (Pictorial), “Phila Noir”
2003: Best of Photojournalism, First Place, (Arts), “Barnett Newman”
2001: Pictures of the Year, First Place, (Campaign), “Watchful Eye”
2000: Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors, Best of Show
2000: Pictures of the Year, Award of Excellence, (Pictorial), “Schoolyard Exercise”
1999: Overseas Press Club/ John Faber Award, “Rwanda: Aftermath of Genocide”
1999: Pictures of the Year, Award of Excellence, (Spot News), “Killed for His Watch”
1998: World Press Photo Foundation, First Place (Sports Picture Story), “Anderson Monarchs”
1998: Pictures of the Year, First Place, (Pictorial Category), “Cuban Fisherman”
1998: Pictures of the Year, First Place, (Sports Story), “Youth Baseball Team”
1998: Pictures of the Year, Award of Excellence, “Cuba, On the Edge”
1997: Pictures of the Year, Award of Excellence, “Buchanan Supporters”
1995: Pictures of the Year, First Place, “Figure and Form”
1990: World Press Photo Foundation, Second Place, “Exxon Oil Spill”

Fellowships

1998: Penn State University Professional in Residence Fellowship
1996: Terra Fellowship, Giverny Institute at the Museum of American Art, Giverny, France
1995: Pew Fellowships in the Arts, discipline winner and finalist, Works on Paper
1994: Case National Fellowship for Journalists