Drunken Poet's Dream

Drunken Poet’s Dream is a deeply introspective photographic series by Lori Vrba, inspired by the evocative song of the same name by Texan musician Ray Wylie Hubbard. The phrase "Drunken Poet’s Dream" struck Vrba as a perfect metaphor for life’s emotional dualities: “alluring, wonderful, and tragic.” In this body of work, Vrba explores the internal tensions and external beauty of the human experience, capturing the complexities of love, loss, and the artist's journey.

The series reflects the contradictions inherent in life - like the discomfort and beauty found in love, parenthood, and the creative process itself. Each image in the series is carefully crafted to evoke a rich narrative, inviting viewers to reflect on the delicate balance between the painful and the beautiful in our lives.

Lori Vrba, a self-taught multimedia artist based in Hillsborough, North Carolina, is known for her work in photography and assemblage. Her imagery often explores themes of memory, illusion, and loss, framed through the lens of Southern storytelling traditions.

Vrba’s work is held in private collections around the world, including the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and the Fox Talbot Museum in the UK. She has curated numerous exhibitions, such as Tribe at the Fox Talbot Museum and The Center for Photographic Art in 2019. Vrba’s first monograph, The Moth Wing Diaries, was published in 2015 and named one of the top ten photo books of the year by American Photo Magazine. Known for her innovative approach to exhibitions and installations, she also teaches at the Los Angeles Center of Photography and co-founded Pigs Fly Retreats. In her work, Vrba remains dedicated to traditional film photography, using medium-format film and a hands-on darkroom process to create images that are tactile, intimate, and emotionally resonant.

Through Drunken Poet’s Dream, Lori Vrba invites us into a world where the rawness of life is felt deeply - where beauty and discomfort coexist. Each photograph is a window into Vrba’s personal reflections, but also a universal commentary on the intricate, often contradictory experiences that define our lives. The series underscores her mastery of the medium and her ability to capture complex emotional landscapes, offering an intimate exploration of the human condition.