“Tulips” Photograph by Paulette Tavormina

Paulette Tavormina lives and works in New York City. Amidst the bustle that defines the city, she can often be found at one of the city’s many farmers markets searching for the perfectly imperfect flora that characterize her photographs. Her arrangements often recall the sumptuous detail of seventeenth century old master still life painters and serve as intensely personal interpretations of timeless, universal stories. With a painterly perspective reminiscent of Francisco de Zurbarán, Adriaen Coorte and Giovanna Garzoni, Tavormina creates worldly still lives.

Tavormina’s photographs are in museum, corporate and private collections and have been exhibited in Paris, London, Moscow, Lugano, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Palm Beach, Boston and Chicago. Tavormina, who is largely self-taught, currently photographs works of art for Sotheby’s and works as a commercial photographer. She has collaborated with The Fabulous Beekman boys on three cookbooks, including the critically acclaimed the Beekman 1802 Heirloom cookbook and recently photographed The Del Posto cookbook. Previously, Tavormina was a prop and food stylist in Hollywood, her work seen on the silver screen in films such as Nixon and the perfect storm.