Paul Jasmin and Todd Weaver: Fading Westward
Fading Westward presents the evocative visions of Paul Jasmin and Todd Weaver—two photographers who have captured the ephemeral glow and wistful beauty of Los Angeles. Their work channels the spirit of a city defined by light, illusion, and transformation.
Though neither artist hails from California, both found themselves captivated by its radiant allure. Over time, Los Angeles became more than a backdrop—it became part of their creative DNA. In this exhibition, Jasmin’s intimate, cinematic portraits meet Weaver’s lyrical depictions of nature, forming a portrait of the West that is as much emotional as it is geographical.
Jasmin’s photography helped shape the mythos of Los Angeles. His images—steeped in softness, warmth, and vulnerability—offer glimpses into private worlds. Through dreamlike staging and a tender gaze, Jasmin reveals a city that feels both suspended and deeply felt.
Weaver’s work, by contrast, dwells in the natural landscapes along California’s edges—deserts, surf breaks, and sun-bleached skies. Using analog processes and in-camera experimentation, he distills atmosphere and movement into painterly frames that pulse with energy and stillness in equal measure. Together, Jasmin and Weaver portray California not as fantasy but as something real and fleeting—a luminous place constantly in flux, at once rooted and vanishing.
The exhibition was conceived in collaboration with Paul Jasmin prior to his passing. The organizers are honored to bring this project to life in his memory and to pay tribute to his lasting bond with the city of Los Angeles.
About the Author
Paul Jasmin (1935–2025) was a photographer, illustrator, and educator whose work distilled an elegant and emotive vision of American beauty. Born in Helena, Montana, Jasmin began his creative journey in painting and acting, later turning to photography in the 1970s, encouraged by his close friend Bruce Weber. His photographs often explore themes of youth, longing, and sensuality, rendered in lush, cinematic tableaus. Jasmin’s work has appeared in Vogue, Interview, GQ, Teen Vogue, W, V Man, Vogue Hommes, and advertising campaigns for APC, Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, and more. He published three acclaimed monographs: Hollywood Cowboy (2002), Lost Angeles (2004), and California Dreaming (2010, Steidl/7L).
A long-standing faculty member at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, Jasmin mentored generations of photographers with compassion and clarity. Known to many as “Jazz,” he brought warmth, precision, and imagination to everything he touched. He passed away peacefully in Los Angeles on May 24, 2025, at the age of 90.
Todd Weaver (b. 1970) is known for his richly hued images and intimate portraits of creatives across music and visual arts. With a strong sense of color and mood, his photography blurs the lines between documentation and visual poetry. Weaver trained under influential figures such as William Claxton, Herb Ritts, Steven Klein, Randee St. Nicholas, and Ellen von Unwerth, eventually forging his own aesthetic. His subjects have included André 3000, Father John Misty, Paz Lenchantin, Devendra Banhart, and Lita Albuquerque. Commercial collaborations include work with Nike, Cadillac, and Veuve Clicquot. His debut monograph 36 (2018) features a series of spontaneous portraits shot with a vintage half-frame camera.
In recent years, Weaver has turned his lens toward the surf culture of Southern California, crafting expressive analog portraits that examine the rhythm between human and ocean. His experimental, tactile style has earned him repeated recognition in the American Photography Annual, as well as inclusion in two recent volumes from Taschen,
Fading Westward: Photographs by Paul Jasmin and Todd Weaver
through September 6, 2025
Fahey/Klein Gallery – Los Angeles
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