Biography

For over twenty five years Phil Borges has lived with and documented indigenous and tribal cultures around the world. Through his work, he strives to create a heightened understanding of the issues faced by people in the developing world.

Through his exhibits and award-winning books, Phil attempts to create a relationship between the audience and his photographic subjects. “I want the viewer to see these people as individuals, to know their names and a bit of their history, not just to view them as an anonymous part of some remote ethnic or tribal group.”

His book TIBETAN PORTRAIT: The Power of Compassion, introduces individuals from a deeply spiritual culture who have been marginalized and displaced by the occupation of their homeland. In 1998 he joined Amnesty International to present ENDURING SPIRIT, an exhibit and book celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. His exhibit and book The Gift highlights the work of medical teams that provide facial reconstructive surgery to children in the developing world.

Phil has hosted three television documentaries for Discovery and National Geographic as a part of a series that investigates indigenous cultures that still maintain a spiritual dialogue with the natural world.

Phil’s current project, Women Empowered, introduces some of the extraordinary women in the developing world who are breaking through gender barriers and conventions in order to enhance their well being and the well being of their communities.

Phil’s photographs are collected and exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide. His award-winning books have been published in four languages and in 1998 he was presented the Photo Media Magazine "Photoperson of the Year" award. In December, 2003 Phil was honored with the Humanitarian Award, receiving the Lucie at the 1st Annual International Photography Awards. In 2005 he was named a Giraffe Hero for his humanitarian work. Phil teaches and lectures internationally and is co-founder of Blue Earth Alliance, a 501c3 that sponsors photographic projects focusing on endangered cultures and threatened environments.

In 2001 Phil founded Bridges to Understanding, a school partnership program that uses the internet, digital stories and face to face exchanges to connect youth worldwide for the purpose of exploring and honoring cultural diversity and building cross-cultural understanding.  Bridges' volunteer mentors work in schools in Western Washington state and travel to Bridges sites around the world to help students create photo-stories of their lives and issues affecting their lives.  These stories are uploaded and shared with students in other parts of the world as part of an on-going, year-round dialogue among classroom students.  Bridges is growing rapidly and currently has sites in India, Guatemala, Peru, South Africa and in the Middle East.  (see www.bridgesweb.org.)

Phil graduated from University of California as a Regents Scholar in 1969 and was honored with their prestigious University of California Medal in 2004. He lives with his family in Seattle.

Selected Solo Exhibits
2004 United Nations, New York, NY
2002 Exploris Museum, Raleigh, NC
2001 Wright Museum of Art, Beloit, WI.
2001 Magister Ludi, Cesano Maderno, Milan, Italy
2001 Andrew Smith Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
2001 South Dakota Art Museum, Brookings, SD.
2000 Galerie D'Art Contemporain, Luxembourg
2000 Centro Cultural Recoleta, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2000 National Gallery of the Grand Cayman Islands, British W.I.
2000 Kulturernas Museum, Helsinki, Finland
1999 Kunsthal Museum, Rotterdam, Netherlands
1998 White House, Washington, D.C.
1998 Tasende Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
1998 Benham Gallery, Seattle, WA.
1998 Albuquerque Museum, NM.
1997 Whyte Museum, Banff, Alberta, Canada
1997 Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver, BC.
1997 Museum of History and Industry, Seattle, WA.
1996 Camera Obscura Gallery, Denver, CO.
1996 G. Ray Hawkins Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
1996 Alexandra Palace, London, England
1996 Capital Rotunda, Washington D.C.
1995 Photographic Image, Portland, OR.
1992 Silver Image Gallery, Seattle, WA.
1991 Benham Gallery, Seattle, WA.