Justin Aversano Gets “Intro-Spective” for Francisco Carolinum Linz Exhibition

On Sept. 3, Justin Aversano‘s “INTRO-SPECTIVE: Trust the Process” exhibition opened at the Francisco Carolinum Linz in Austria. The solo museum show will run through Jan. 26, 2025, marking a major milestone for the “Twin Flames” photographer and offering audiences a deep dive into Aversano’s collections.

Curated by Marlène Corbun, “INTRO-SPECTIVE” reimagines the traditional retrospective format, encouraging visitors to engage more deeply with the themes of healing and introspection.

“A retrospective typically looks back over an artist’s life and career,” reflects Aversano. “I wanted to play with that idea by creating an introduction to my work thus far, spanning 12 years and four major projects, with over 600 pieces. The second meaning refers to the inner journey the work evokes—healing through art and looking inward through photography and painting. Just as each project evolved, each medium in the exhibition communicates different emotions.”

The exhibition highlights key series from Aversano’s career, including “Every Day is a Gift,” “Cognition,” “Twin Flames,” and “Smoke and Mirrors.” Each series reflects different aspects of Aversano’s life, from documenting birthday celebrations with Polaroids to exploring grief and healing through collage and mixed media. His well-known “Twin Flames” series honors the connection between twins, while “Smoke and Mirrors” delves into the world of mysticism, portraying artists, healers, and tarot readers as part of a larger spiritual exploration.

In collaboration with TRAME and Penzo, Aversano has created custom furniture pieces for the exhibition, integrating algorithmic art and unique decor to complement his photographic series. The result is an innovative, multi-sensory experience that bridges the digital and physical worlds in an immersive environment.

We spoke with Aversano around the exhibition’s opening to explore his thoughts on the exhibition and reflect on his work to date.

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Matt Medved: How did the museum show come together?

Justin Aversano: The museum show came together with the support of my friends and peers. Anika Maier and I held an exhibition for “Smoke & Mirrors” last April at Expanded.Art. Over the course of the year, she connected me with the gracious Alfred Weidinger, the director of several museums in Linz. He firmly believes in giving artists opportunities and creating spaces for them to bring their dreams to life. I then asked Marlène Corburn to curate the show. We’ve worked together since our first project during Paris Photo last November with La Collection. Marlène’s master’s thesis was on Mark Rothko’s career, and because we share a deep appreciation for his philosophy and art, I knew she would be the perfect curator to tell my story and place this exhibition in the broader context of art history.

What does “INTRO-SPECTIVE” mean for you and how does it differ from a traditional retrospective?

“INTRO-SPECTIVE” has a dual meaning. First, it’s an introduction to the art world. A retrospective typically looks back over an artist’s life and career. I wanted to play with that idea by creating an introduction to my work thus far, spanning 12 years and four major projects, with over 600 pieces. The second meaning refers to the inner journey the work evokes—healing through art and looking inward through photography and painting. Just as each project evolved, each medium in the exhibition communicates different emotions. The works presented here include all the NFTs I’ve minted. We wanted to show that NFTs aren’t just digital files—they’re real artworks, challenging the common misconceptions about them. My NFTs are art, blending the physical and digital worlds. 

What was the vision for your latest collection “Every Day is a Gift?”

My first project, “Every Day Is a Gift,” was my senior thesis at SVA in 2012. The concept was simple: every day of the year, I found someone whose birthday was that day and photographed them without missing a single day. The Polaroid format fit the project perfectly, capturing the nostalgia and celebration of a moment—a snapshot of someone on their special day. I created this project in honor of my mother, who was battling cancer at the time. It was my way of showing her that I had learned to be grateful for each day and each person, to unite humanity through their birthdays. There are 365 days and 8 billion people. Birthdays connect us all—they mark the moment we enter this world, a shared starting point for seeing one another as equals. The project celebrates the preciousness of life, knowing that one day, it will inevitably come to an end.

Tell us about the TRAME collaboration and the backstory/inspiration there.

TRAME has been a phenomenal partner and sponsor for this exhibition. I first shared the vision for this collaboration with my friend Isma during Art Basel while smoking hash on a sidewalk. I wanted his furniture to complement my artwork by visually representing blockchain data. Isma believed in this idea. We used timestamp data from the minting dates of my first “Twin Flames” photograph, first “Cognition” painting, and first “Smoke & Mirrors” silkscreen to create generative patterns. These patterns represent elements like fire, air, and water, woven into the fabric based on the time, temperature, and atmospheric pressure at the moment of minting. 

What do you believe the legacy of “Twin Flames” will be?

The legacy of “Twin Flames” began as a personal project to heal from the loss of my fraternal twin. It evolved into a photography project that made history on the blockchain and in auction houses in 2021. “Twin Flames” inspired many other photographers to mint their work and connect with new audiences. After my success with the project, I helped usher photographers into the NFT space through Quantum Art. We wanted to share the lessons and opportunities with artists we believed in. Moving forward, I expect “Twin Flames” to continue to be featured in major collections and museums around the world. The collector, CL7, who purchased the original set of 100 color darkroom prints, is building a chateau in France to house them, alongside works by Henri Cartier-Bresson and other iconic photographers. He envisions this project being exhibited in space stations or even on the moon in the future, recognizing humanity’s shared experience through the concept of twinship as we venture into the stars. 

What does the future hold for photography NFTs?

The future for NFTs is incredibly bright. This technology represents a revolution and a new art movement—one that we may not fully grasp until decades from now. As for photography, I foresee a renewed appreciation for ‘real’ photography as we dive deeper into the age of AI, where images can be generated instantly with just a prompt. Just as we now seek out retro and vintage items, there will be a demand for the tangible and timeless elements of photography. It’s a reflection of reality, and I don’t think humans will want to lose touch with that mirror. Photography is still a relatively young medium, and we have much more to explore and discover through it.