The Last Portrait
Reflections at the End of Life

A photography exhibit by Mark DiOrio

Exhibition runs from October 19 until November 27, 2026.

Discussion & Opening Reception: Thursday, October 22 • 5-7 pm

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Exhibit Statement

Every person has a unique story, shaped by life’s challenges and accomplishments. The end of life is just another chapter — our final challenge — and it provokes an equally unique response.

The Last Portrait is a photographic exploration by Mark DiOrio into those remaining days of the narrative. It features portraits of Upstate New York residents who were in hospice care from 2014 through 2021.

The exhibition is inspired by a celebration of existence, even in its closing stages. It attempts to capture the essence of individuals as they and their families reflect on their lives and respond to their feelings about death in their own distinctive ways. The project also offered families one more opportunity to be photographed with their loved ones.

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About the Photographer

Mark DiOrio is an editorial and commercial photographer based in Upstate New York. He is also the University Photographer at Colgate University.

DiOrio earned his Master of Science in Photography from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the State University of New York College at Purchase.

He worked as a photojournalist at midsize newspapers, documenting communities in Louisiana, Utah, Florida, and New York.

While on assignment, DiOrio often spends more time listening to those in front of the camera than making pictures.

“The trust you build leads to access. Access is everything. It’s the point where you make the most intimate photographs. It’s where you capture someone at their most authentic representation.”