Born in 1911, Teske learned the essentials of his craft as a child and photography soon became a second language for him. The event that shaped his career more than anything was the meeting of Frank Lloyd Wright in mid-1936. At Wright's Taliesin Fellowship, he received unconventional training in the visual arts, and more importantly, inspiration from the master himself. Teske's method often includes solarization and chemical toning that achieve luscious burnt umber tones. He began to explore the extreme limits of "emulsion as plastic pigment"- a phrase he coined for Wright. Encouraged by Wright, he explored the idea of establishing a duality between people and buildings. Private reverie is a recurring theme in Teskes's work. He was also inspired by Laszlo Moholy-Nagy and Bernice Abbott, and Paul Strand. In 1943, Teske moved to Hollywood and eventually connected with a client of Wright's, Aline Barnsdall. She had commissioned Wright to design the Hollyhock house in Hollywood where she planned a Center for the Arts. Teske took residence there in Studio Residence B. He was the last artist to occupy the Residence before it was demolished. He died in 1996

Monograph

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