Joe Aker is an internationally recognized architectural photographer and artist. He grew up in Oklahoma City and holds a BSc in Photography from the Rochester Institute of Photography in Rochester, New York. Aker opened his Architectural Photography business in Houston in 1978 and has worked since for architectural firms worldwide including Cesar Pelli, Skidmore Owning Merrill, Kirksey, Gensler, HOK, Pickard Chilton, CBRE, Transwestern, PDR, Vaughn Construction, Hines, Perrin Projects and Page/EYP.  His work has taken him to every state, Europe, Russia and South America, and has been published in all major architectural magazines.  

Aker operated the Aker Imaging Lab in Houston for over 23 years before it closed in 2020. As a part of the lab that offered both analog and digital lab services, he operated Aker Imaging Gallery which showed emerging and mid-career artists from 2011-2017. He continues to work with major architectural firms across the world while exploring other creative fields including mixed media and sculpture.  

Aker’s photography-based work is in collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the University of Houston Main Library, as well as many corporate and private collections. His solo exhibitions include the Deborah Colton Gallery, Houston; Buchanan Gallery, Galveston; and Frank Picture Gallery, Santa Monica. Additionally, his sculptural works have been exhibited at the Glassell School of Art. Aker has taught Architectural Photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology and is represented by Koslov Larsen Gallery, Houston.

Web: www.akerimaging.com , www.facesoftheother.com , http://www.thedichotomyoflife.art

Courses & Workshops: The Business of Photography