borges

For over 25 years, Phil Borges has been visiting and documenting indigenous and tribal cultures around the world. His images tap deeply into the human spirit of his subjects. Through his various exhibits, books, and educational programs, he strives to promote cultural diversity. Borges’ work has been called a balance of intense empathy and clean, clear craft. The Seattle-based photographer travelled after college exploring exotic places. In the 1980s, Borges gave up a lucrative career in dentistry to master photography. His travel background was surely an influence as he journeyed to Asia, Africa, and South America and recorded affecting portraits of Tibetans and other indigenous people around the world. Borges’ riveting portraits have been the subject of over 80 museum and solo gallery exhibits worldwide and are included in numerous museum and private collections. His award-winning books have been published in four languages.

In 1998 Borges was presented the Photo Media Magazine Photoperson of the Year” award. His first book, Tibetan Portrait: The Power of Compassion (Rizzoli, 1996), is in its fifth printing, and his exhibit and book, Enduring Spirit, was selected by Amnesty International for the global celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Borges’ book, The Gift, documents the work of Interplast, an organization that provides reconstructive surgery for children in developing countries. Shot in Peru and Vietnam, The Gift is helping Interplast celebrate thirty years of service to children around the world. Another current project focuses on the people of selected indigenous cultures and their relationship to the natural world. The exhibition documents the individuals in these cultures who mediate the spiritual relationship between the community and the environment – the people we in the West refer to as shamans.

Phil’s body and work and subsequent book, “Women Empowered: Inspiring Change in the Emerging World” focuses on women of all ages that are working for positive change in their own communities around the world. He states, “In 2004 I partnered with the organization CARE to bring attention to the necessity of empowering women in the global campaign to alleviate poverty. I traveled to Africa, Asia and South America to gather the stories of extraordinary women in remote parts of the world who have empowered themselves and their communities. Here are a few of these women, remote and mostly unknown, on the vanguard of a global shift toward gender equality.”

Borges is the founder of Bridges to Understanding, an online classroom program connecting children from indigenous and tribal cultures with their urban contemporaries for the purpose of exploring and preserving cultural diversity. He also teaches and lectures internationally, and is co-founder of Blue Earth Alliance, a non-profit organization that sponsors photographic projects focusing on endangered cultures and threatened environments. He lives with his family in Seattle.

Phil has hosted three television documentaries for Discovery and National Geographic as a part of a series that investigates indigenous cultures that still maintain a spiritual dialogue with the natural world. His photographs are collected and exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide.

Print Information: Prints are offered in a limited edition of either 35 or 50 images (depending upon the series). Prices begin at $800. (unframed). Traditional “Borges-style” shadowbox framing is available, at an additional charge.

Each image in the Women Empowered series is offered in a limited edition of 35 prints (and five Artist Proofs). All limited edition photographic prints are Chromogenic prints with archival pigment inks, produced under the direct supervision of the artist. Print prices start at $800 (unframed), increase as the edition sells out and are subject to change without prior notice. Please inquire if you have other favorite images by this artist, as we can offer his entire portfolio of work for sale.

Portrait of Phil Borges (above) by Jeff Gima. Copyright © Jeff Gima, 2009. All rights reserved.

Click here to view Women Empowered: Inspiring Change in the Emerging World,
our exhibition and sale of fine art photography by Phil Borges.

Other photographs by this artist are also available. Please contact Soulcatcher Studio
if you are interested in these or any other images.


All artwork is copyright © of the respective artist or estate.
All other material copyright © Soulcatcher Studio. All rights reserved.
Contact us by Email
Or call 505-310-SOUL (7685)