Photograph of Elizabeth Felicella by Shoshannah White
REMEMBERING ELIZABETH FELICELLA
Dearest SPEEDWELL community,
Our mission is to create a lasting legacy for the work of women and queer artists who have dedicated their lives to their practice. We know this work is a gift, and is the fruit of many decades of focused effort. We also know that it is frequently made without receiving the significant public awareness it deserves.
Unfortunately, sometimes we lose a member of our community at such a young age that we feel an even greater urgency to ensure that their work is not forgotten. SPEEDWELL would like to take a moment to bring your attention to the work of Elizabeth Felicella, who died in December 2024 at the age of 58.
Elizabeth was deeply loved and admired, and her work is profound. It is subtle and quiet, the kind of work that must be given time to understand and appreciate. It is our honor to show you some of her work here.
Sincerely, Jocelyn Lee
Founder, SPEEDWELL Contemporary
Elizabeth was a renowned architectural photographer, whose work was widely published in mainstream and specialized design publications – she achieved particular prominence photographing landscape architecture. Her most recent projects primarily took the form of multi-tiered institutional collaborations, exhibitions and publications including Minerva Parker Nichols: The Search for a Forgotten Architect.
In addition to her commissioned work, Elizabeth had a committed art practice and our group had the rare privilege of witnessing Elizabeth develop her work over time. We were some of the first to see Reading Room: A Catalog of New York City’s Branch Libraries (where Elizabeth photographed all 210 of New York City’s Branch Libraries) and Sea Level: Five Boroughs at Water’s Edge.
Elizabeth’s work has a quiet power to it, much like the artist herself. She often paired an academic perspective with human tenderness and sensitivity. Her photographs rendered architectural detail with precision, elegance, and vulnerability They reverberate with human presence although they rarely include people. She explored the imprint humanity leaves on a space and what those spaces tell us about humanity.
Aside from her dedicated practice as an artist, Elizabeth was a serious intellectual, activist and warm friend. She moved softly through the world and contributed generously and thoughtfully to our individual projects. She possessed exceptional attention, often listening and waiting for others to finish their thoughts before adding a disarmingly perceptive and smart perspective to the conversation and on the work. In her feedback, we felt seen and understood; we hope that she felt the same. She brought her studio assistant and mentee into the folds of our group, and remained committed to our member's work over the years.
Our community treasures our time with Elizabeth, her brilliant intellectualism, her generosity of spirit, and her quiet wisdom. We miss her terribly.