Stephen Cohen Gallery is excited to announce "Pieter Hugo - Looking Aside," an exhibition of the provocative portrait photography by emerging South African photographer Pieter Hugo. In this intimate and unsettling series of images, from 2004 to the present, the artist points his lens at those people whose appearance makes us "look aside" - once intrigued, we take a second, surreptitious glance. Through a wide variety of full-color portraits, shot against stark white backgrounds, the artist forces us to confront our prejudices and preconceived notions of "beauty" and "the normal." Hugo’s subjects are the blind, the albino, the aged, himself - and in the end, ourselves. "Pieter Hugo-Looking Aside" will run from January 4 to February 24, 2007. An opening reception for the artist will be held Thursday, January 11, 2007 from 7 to 9 p.m. Born in 1976 in Johannesburg and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Pieter Hugo was a resident for two years at Fabrica in Treviso, Italy. In 2006 He was selected by Getty Images as one of their "Young Photographers," and by Art Review magazine as of one "100 artists on the cusp of international success." In addition, Hugo’s work was included in "ReGeneration: 50 Photographers of Tomorrow, 2005-2025" (Musée de l’Elysée, Lausanne, and Aperture, New York), an exhibition identifying 50 young photographers of extraordinary talent, who are already making their mark. Hugo won first prize in the Portraits section of the 2006 World Press Photo competition for Mallam Galadima Ahamadu with Jamis, Nigeria 2005. His work is included in the 27th São Paulo Bienal (7 October - 17 December 2006). Hugo's socially–focused images highlight global issues with an emphasis on Africa and other developing countries. He has produced eloquent visual essays exploring issues ranging from tuberculosis in Malawi to slavery in Sudan; slums in Brazil to old age communities in South Africa. His photography has appeared in numerous print publications including The New Yorker and The Sunday Times (London). He has held solo exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in Rome and Fabrica Features in Lisbon. "Pieter Hugo-Looking Aside" is presented by the Stephen Cohen Gallery, located at 7358 Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and by appointment.