Celebrate the remarkable life and artistry of Scott Wallace, a gifted photographer whose journey spanned from the bustling stages of New York and Hollywood to Key West and the mountains of Murphy, NC.
Known for his award-winning fine art photography and his impeccable photojournalism with the Cherokee Scout, Scott Wallace captured daily life with detailed precision—combining his technical skill, creative genius, and an unparalleled eye for storytelling.
This exhibit, curated by Scott’s friend, David Vowell of the Cherokee County Arts Council, offers a rare glimpse into Scott’s diverse portfolio, honoring his legacy and creative spirit.
I’m joined by David Brown of the Cherokee Scout and David Vowell of the Cherokee County Arts Council to share a few words about Scott Wallace. We look forward to an evening of storytelling through the lens of this extraordinary artist Friday May 23rd from 5-7pm in The Mill Building…
While well known here as the photojournalist for the Cherokee Scout, Scott Wallace’s life was rich with many more creative endeavors. Scott grew up with a love for acting and graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago, Goodman School of Drama. Before he graduated, he was doing acting gigs and voice overs – much to the chagrin of his professors who wanted him in class rather than out making money at his craft. Acting would take him to New York and later Hollywood, where he performed in TV and radio commercials and theater productions.
While living in both New York and LA, he also got involved in the photography business, working for
an ad agency in New York and the LA Weekly News in Los Angelos. This was the beginning of a
career in which Scott would spend the next 40 years.
In the early 1980s Scott returned to Illinois and became the director of photography for Outdoor
Marine Corporation. Over the years, he took many trips south for photo shoots and fell in love with
Key West, Florida. He finally moved in the early 1990s and worked for the Key West Citizen and as a
free-lance photographer. In 1996, he won best picture of the year in the Thomson Newspaper Groups
International Competition. During this decade Scott was also awarded a yearlong fellowship by the
State of Florida to photographically document the artwork of prisoners inside Florida’s maximum-
security prisons.
While Scott loved Key West, he despised hurricanes, so in 2006, Murphy became home for Scott, and he became a photojournalist for the Cherokee Scout. The people Scott photographed impacted him, and many friendships emerged from his work.
He retired from the Cherokee Scout in 2014, but not from life. He volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Meals on Wheels. Along with fellow photographer Nathan Baerreis, Scott taught high school students
a yearlong photojournalism course funded by the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation. This series of
classroom and in-the-field workshops culminated in a stunning exhibit hosted by the Cherokee
County Arts Council.
After his passing, at the request of Scott’s pastor and Estate Executor, Michael Herrington, the Arts
Council accepted the role of conservators for Scott Wallace’s large collection of photographic
artworks. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience his work firsthand in the Gallery at The Mill.
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