Sally Mann is a contemporary American photographer best known for large format, black-and-white photographs chronicling the development of her children, and her landscape photography. Mann’s work is haunting and theatrical in nature. The lightly-staged images evoke scenes from motion pictures. Her landscape photography is said to evoke feelings of death and decay.
Mann was awarded Individual Artist Fellowships from the Natural Endowment for the arts in 1982, 1988, and 1992. Her publications include “At Twelve” and “Immediate Family,” both of which were met with controversy over their interpretations of coming of age. Nonetheless, her photography is held in high regard as an honest portrayal of adolescence as seen through the eyes of a caring mother.
One of Mann’s most famous series is “Immediate Family” (1984-1991), which is a collection of photographs of her three children, Emmett, Jessie and Virginia. The photographs depict the children in various stages of growing up, and they often show them in candid and unguarded moments. Mann’s photographs are considered to be an intimate and honest portrayal of childhood, and they have been widely celebrated for their emotional power and vulnerability.
Another notable series of Mann’s is “Deep South” (1998-2000) where she photographed the landscape and people of the American South. The photographs depict the beauty and majesty of the Southern landscape, but also the harsh realities of poverty and racism. Mann’s photographs are a powerful commentary on the history and culture of the American South.
Mann’s work has been widely exhibited and is held in the collections of major museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington D.C.
In addition to her photographic work, Mann has also written several books of poetry and prose. Her writing often deals with similar themes as her photographs, such as family, memory, and the passage of time. Mann’s writing is considered to be an integral part of her artistic practice, and it often serves as a complement to her photographs.
One of the most interesting aspects of Mann’s work is the way in which she uses photography to explore the complexities and contradictions of human experience. Her photographs often depict her subjects in a state of vulnerability, and they are often shot in black and white to create a sense of timelessness and emotional depth. Mann’s work is also known for its honesty, and the way in which she presents her subjects without any manipulation or manipulation.
Another aspect of Mann’s work is its exploration of family and memory. Mann often photographs her family and friends and uses these photographs to reflect on the passage of time, the nature of family, and the complexities of human relationships.
Mann’s work continues to be widely celebrated and influential in the art world. Her photographs are considered to be an important contribution to the field of portraiture and documentary photography. Her ability to capture the complexities and contradictions of human experience and her honest approach to her subjects make her one of the most important photographers of our time.
The dramatic and cinematic nature of Mann’s photography sets her black and white images apart in the canon of artistic photography.
In conclusion, Sally Mann is an American photographer known for her intimate, black-and-white photographs of her family, friends and the landscape of the American South. She began her career in the 1970s, and quickly gained recognition for her striking and evocative photographs. Mann is known for her series “Immediate Family” and “Deep South” which are considered to be an intimate and honest portrayal of childhood and the American South respectively. Her photographs are widely celebrated for their emotional power and vulnerability and are held in the collections of major museums around the world. Mann’s writing often serves as a complement to her photographs and her work continues to be widely celebrated and influential in the art world.
Sally Mann biographical summary
Born: May 1, 1951, Lexington, Virginia
Education: MA, Hollins College
Nationality: American