BEE GATS is a self-taught photographer whose unflinching lens captures moments of raw humanity, informed by his extraordinary personal journey. His work is characterized by a deliberate immediacy—typically capturing just a single frame of each subject—resulting in images of remarkable intimacy and authenticity.
Born in the American Midwest, Gats' early life was shaped by profound disruption following his mother's murder when he was six years old. Years in institutional care fostered both resilience and a sharp observational perspective. His informal education through books and visual media developed an intuitive understanding of visual framing and composition that would later define his photographic style.
In 2016, Gats picked up a camera for the first time—a Fuji x100t—and immersed himself in an intensive self-directed photographic education, creating over 10,000 images in his first three months. His subject matter reflects environments and individuals he knows intimately, photographed with an insider's perspective that avoids both exploitation and sentimentality.
By 2019, Gats had embarked on an extensive period of travel, visiting over 100 cities in a single year in pursuit of images. The pandemic period provided an unexpected interlude for reflection and synthesis of his approach. A pivotal connection with New Orleans and artist/gallerist Gabriel Shaffer led to his first professional exhibition with Mortal Machine Gallery in 2021, followed by presentations at Scope Art Fair and culminating in the prestigious Founder's Choice award at Scope 2024.
Gats' distinctive visual voice continues to evolve, maintaining its authentic connection to lived experience while gaining recognition in contemporary photography circles.
New body of work coming in May 2025
10 products
10 products
