Brian Lav has been photographing and teaching since 1969. In addition to Drew University in Madison, New Jersey (2003-2009), Lav has been a Professor of Photography at Parsons the New School for Design in Manhattan since 1974 where he received their most prestigious Distinguished Teaching Award in 1998.
In 2002 Amhearst Media published Zone System, Lav’s textbook which details a precise system of exposing and developing black & white film and is currently being used by several universities and is in the collection of many libraries. In 2010 Brian Lav Photographs, 1969-2009 was published containing 59 of his photographic images. Vivian Raynor of the New York Times noted about this book "In Mr. Lav's pictures there are seemingly two photographers at work. One produces gentle meditative prints and the other no less contemplative works on a more heroic scale." Michelle Bogre, then Chair of Photography at Parsons, commenting on this book noted “He shows us what a photograph can be in the hands of an artist with an uncanny sense of that perfect moment when the light, balance, movement, stillness or expression coalesce.”
To date Brian Lav has had over forty one-man and group exhibits and his work is represented in many permanent collections. Brian Lav is recognized as a prominent contemporary photographer, a master printer, as well as, an exceptional educator.
