World famous as Star Trek‘s Mr. Spock, Leonard Nimoy has numerous lesser-known talents that go beyond acting. As a photographer who studied with the late, great Robert Heinecken in the 1970s and was an artist-in-residence at the American Academy in Rome in 2000, Nimoy has made portraits, still-lifes, landscapes, and nudes. In 2007, he asked the people of Northampton, Massachusetts to share their secret selves with him, which led to more than 100 participants — ranging from sailors and CEOs to editors and teachers — dressing up as superheroes, wizards, mad scientists, and starlets to fulfill their inner fantasies.
An exhibition of the resulting works, titled Secret Selves, is currently on view at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) in North Adams through January 2, 2011.
Click through below for a gallery of images.
Scott — Children’s Book Illustrator “I play music for preschoolers… But that’s a bunch of screaming kids, not a bunch of screaming girls.” From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
Amanda — Waitress/Cosmetologist "My father was a pastor so…I had to be mature. So now is my time…to play." From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
James — Newspaper Arts Editor "I plan to retire into a career as a mad scientist. I believe it is only madness of purpose that will serve me well." From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
Lisa — Director of Communication "My own story comes from all the stories I’ve heard." From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
Natalie — Foster Care mother "I want to show that I still have a lot of female in me." From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
Kathleen — Psychotherapist "I usually wear pretty clothes but when I go to buy a car or something, the inner pit bull comes out." From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
Matt — Painter of Americans who have witnessed war "I would aspire to be a force of nature, a simple and pure avatar of the Earth." From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
Michael — Public Relations Marketing "I want to look tougher than I do." From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
Joseph — US Navy "I was born and got this superman cape and a green bear that I take with me everywhere." From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
Barry — Book Designer, illustrator "I am my dog…I don’t want to get into the corny stuff about fidelity…for me it goes a little bit deeper." From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
Robin — Graphic Designer "I am a being made completely of light, trapped in a bag full of bones." From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
Kris — artist "The outfit is a cross between masculinity and femininity… I just have two different sides that come out depending on the day." From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
Ira — Advertising firm CEO "My secret self is a wizard who takes illusions and makes people think they are real." From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
Paul — Gallery Director "The Buddha says just let it go…so far I still have that drive. I am looking for a way to reconcile it." From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
Tammy — Ex-Marine / Teacher for behaviorally challenged children "I live life as Clark Kent but I’d rather be Rita Hayworth." From Leonard Nimoy's Secret Selves, Courtesy of R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA