Orejarena & Stein (b. Colombia, 1994 & UK, 1994) are a multimedia artist duo
currently based in NY.
Their conceptual, documentary work employs the intersection of technology, memory, and desire to explore American mythologies and narratives. Orejarena & Stein are fascinated with the emergent property that comes with making each photograph together with a single camera. Their work often involves extensive research into how their images relate to collective image making and the ocean of images surrounding us.
Orejarena & Stein’s work has been exhibited internationally, including a current solo museum show at Deichtorhallen in Hamburg that brings together large scale, site-specific sculptural installations, video work, and large scale photographic prints curated by Nadine Isabelle Heinrich. They have an upcoming solo show PhotoForum Pasquart, Switzerland, and a group show at Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation in Frankfurt. Past exhibitions include The Curator’s Room in Amsterdam in conversation with a selection of Goya's 'Caprichos' engravings, the FOAM Talent exhibition in Amsterdam, solo shows at Palo Gallery in NY, Vin Gallery in HCMC, Jiazazhi in Shanghai, Belfast Photo Festival, and group shows at Vincom Center for Contemporary Art in Hanoi, Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans, Arles Photo Festival, Encontros da Imagem, among others. Orejarena & Stein’s work is in a number of public & private collections, including The J. Paul Getty Museum, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Nguyen Art Foundation, The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, New York State Museum, and The Ann Tenenbaum & Thomas H. Lee Family Collection. Their first book, Long Time No See, was published by Jiazazhi Press in 2022 with texts by Do Tuong Linh and Forensic Architecture. Their second book, American Glitch, was published by Gnomic Book in 2024 with an introduction by David Campany and a booklet of texts from 36 artists, writers, and curators on conceptions of glitch in contemporary society. Their artist books are included in several library collections such as MoMA, NY, The Met, NY, Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Stanford, The RijksMuseum and Center for book arts amongst other places. Their work has been featured in publications including the New York Times, Vogue Italia, British Journal of Photography, Vanity Fair, Vice, KunstForum international, and Die Zeit amongst other places. They have lectured at ICP, Christie’s Education, Sotheby’s Art Institute, and Vassar College, amongst others.
Recently, they had opening for their first solo museum show at Deichtorhallen which has plans to travel to Switzerland and future locations. Also, they will have upcoming group show at the Deutsche Borse photography Foundation in Frankfurt in the winter of 2025.