‘The Human Pulse’

John Elliott, “Bliss Ride (Giza, Egypt),” 2015, archival giclée pigment print. [Courtesy of the artist.]

Soon to be on view in the CF Appleton Museum of Art’s Balcony Gallery for Florida Artists, from June 21 through Jan. 18, 2026, “The Human Pulse: Photographs by John Elliott” will feature 42 black-and-white prints from the Ocala-based photographer’s ongoing series.

The project is shaped by Elliott’s life and travels across 32 countries, capturing the array of the human experience. His photographs reflect a dreamlike vantage point, floating somewhat above, sometimes even at a great distance, but still connected to the moment.

As an influence, Elliott cites the renowned “The Family of Man” exhibition, organized by photographer Edward Steichen for the Museum of Modern Art New York in 1955. Elliott discovered the exhibition catalog in his father’s library and said, “Only decades later did I recollect perusing it with interest as a child and the memories of many images remained vivid. Recently musing upon the genesis of one of my series, ‘The Human Pulse,’ I began to realize how influential this book was on my photographic vision. I strive to paint a multi-faceted spectrum of global humanity — joy to suffering, spontaneity to reflection,” the news release noted.

Elliott was born in Spring Valley, New York, and for his first dozen years lived in Manhattan, after which he moved with his family to Coral Gables, where he fell in love with photography. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography and double minors in Spanish and international studies from Ohio University. After a successful career in media production, in early 2011 he was selected to be an officer in the U.S. Foreign Service and, after five months of training, received a congressional appointment to be a vice consul in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. From 2014-2016, he served as press attaché in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before returning to Washington, D.C., to work for the State Department in five senior diplomatic assignments through 2021. Elliott and his family currently reside in Ocala. He is a founder of the Ocala Photography Group and has exhibited his work in solo and group shows since 1973, the release stated.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and store are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.

For more information, go to appletonmuseum.org

John Elliott, “Dance of Life (Black Rock, Nevada, USA),” 2003, selenium toned black-and-white silver print. [Courtesy of the artist]