PORTLAND, ME.- The Portland Museum of Art is presenting Jo Sandman: Skin Deep, an exhibition showcasing Serpents (1998), a series of 12 photograms by artist Jo Sandman. Created without a camera, these works use snakeskins on light-sensitive paper to explore abstraction, natural forms, and symbolism. The exhibition will be on view from February 14 through August 17, 2025, offering a look into Sandman’s deep connection to the natural world and her experimental approach to photography.

Inspired by her interdisciplinary training at the renowned Black Mountain College in the summer of 1951, Sandman’s work reflects a creative process rooted in collaboration and experimentation. At Black Mountain College, she studied under luminaries including Robert Motherwell and Harry Callahan, experiences that shaped her ability to merge photography, painting, and symbolism. Through the lens of Serpents, the exhibition also examines the concept of glyphs—a pictorial language Sandman explored after hearing poet Charles Olson’s stories of Mayan ruins and serpentine mythology, bridging ancient symbolism with modern artistic practice.

Visitors will experience a meditative dialogue between material, technique, light, and composition. The photograms reveal intricate silhouettes and patterns that suggest movement, language, and transformation. The works oscillate between beauty and unease, inviting viewers to reflect on humanity’s relationship with nature. The PMA will present a series of programming to highlight Sandman’s commitment to interdisciplinary art through poetry, dance, hands-on art making, and curatorial talks.

Jo Sandman: Skin Deep is an exhibition dedicated to showcasing one of Sandman’s final studio experiments, as well as her deep commitment to interdisciplinary art and the innovative use of found objects. The PMA is grateful to be able to share this gift from the artist herself with its audiences as the museum expands its photography collection.