For the last 15 years Art Streiber has shot behind-the-scenes, reportage photography in the days leading up to and the night of The Academy Awards.  He is backstage, in the wings, in the halls, in the balcony and in and around the red carpet from 8am on the Wednesday before the ceremony, all the way through to the very end of Oscar night.

Streiber has captured amazing moments with the crew, the host, the presenters and the winners and has spent a lot of time photographing Oscar himself, in all of his many incarnations.

Truth be told, he’s a bit obsessed. Oscar is regal, proud and dignified, regardless of the situation he finds himself in. Whether he’s being wrapped in weather-proof plastic or being laid down on the red carpet, no matter the momentary humiliation, Oscar remains noble and steadfast. There are 25’ Oscars and 7’ Oscars and there are the statuettes themselves; 13 ½ inches tall and weighing in at 8 ½ pounds.  At any height, Oscar is consistent.

The origins of the name “Oscar” aren’t clear, but according to legend when Academy librarian (and eventual executive director) Margaret Herrick saw the Cedric Gibbons-designed trophy for the first time, she remarked that it resembled her Uncle Oscar. The Academy didn’t adopt the nickname officially until 1939, but it was widely known enough by 1934 that Hollywood columnist Sidney Skolsky used it in a story referring to Katharine Hepburn’s first Best Actress win.

While Streiber has shot hundreds of thousands of images at The Academy Awards over the last decade and a half, these photographs of the statue are amongst his favorites.

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