Larry Sultan's work as a photographer was often characterized by an anxious, observational quality that captured the intricacies of American domestic life. His subjects ranged from porn set interiors to portraits of his own family members and even underwater scenes of people learning to swim.
Born in Brooklyn in 1946, Sultan relocated to Los Angeles with his family at a young age and began developing his interest in photography in the 1970s. He moved to California's San Fernando Valley, an area he would later explore extensively through his work "The Valley," which features over 100 photographs of rented-out homes used for porn shoots.
Sultan's fascination with these areas was not just about their aesthetic appeal but also about the way they served as a backdrop for America's most intimate and often private moments. He would photograph interiors adorned with ornate furniture, animal paintings, and zebra-print rugs, all juxtaposed against the awkwardness of naked actors relaxing between takes.
One notable work by Sultan is "Pictures from Home," which documents his experiences taking photographs of his ageing parents in their suburban home. The series captures a sense of intimacy and familiarity that is both heartwarming and unnerving. Sultan's use of his family members as subjects allowed him to examine the complexities of American family life and how it is perceived and portrayed.
Sultan's approach to photography was deeply personal, drawing from his own experiences of alienation and ambivalence towards his father, who had been a working-class man with an orphaned past. This complicated relationship influenced his work, particularly in "Pictures from Home," where he sought to capture the essence of family dynamics without sentimentality.
Throughout his career, Sultan was drawn to themes that challenged societal norms. He was fascinated by consumer culture and its influence on American life, which led him to produce works like "Evidence" with fellow artist Mike Mandel. This groundbreaking series took thousands of archival images from government and corporate institutions and recontextualized them as poetic and even surreal.
As a photographer and teacher, Sultan's legacy extends beyond his own work. His collaborations and friendships with other artists, such as Carmen Winant and Nan Goldin, have had a lasting impact on the photography world. He remains a giant in the field of conceptual photography, remembered for his curiosity and sharp wit.
Born in Brooklyn in 1946, Sultan relocated to Los Angeles with his family at a young age and began developing his interest in photography in the 1970s. He moved to California's San Fernando Valley, an area he would later explore extensively through his work "The Valley," which features over 100 photographs of rented-out homes used for porn shoots.
Sultan's fascination with these areas was not just about their aesthetic appeal but also about the way they served as a backdrop for America's most intimate and often private moments. He would photograph interiors adorned with ornate furniture, animal paintings, and zebra-print rugs, all juxtaposed against the awkwardness of naked actors relaxing between takes.
One notable work by Sultan is "Pictures from Home," which documents his experiences taking photographs of his ageing parents in their suburban home. The series captures a sense of intimacy and familiarity that is both heartwarming and unnerving. Sultan's use of his family members as subjects allowed him to examine the complexities of American family life and how it is perceived and portrayed.
Sultan's approach to photography was deeply personal, drawing from his own experiences of alienation and ambivalence towards his father, who had been a working-class man with an orphaned past. This complicated relationship influenced his work, particularly in "Pictures from Home," where he sought to capture the essence of family dynamics without sentimentality.
Throughout his career, Sultan was drawn to themes that challenged societal norms. He was fascinated by consumer culture and its influence on American life, which led him to produce works like "Evidence" with fellow artist Mike Mandel. This groundbreaking series took thousands of archival images from government and corporate institutions and recontextualized them as poetic and even surreal.
As a photographer and teacher, Sultan's legacy extends beyond his own work. His collaborations and friendships with other artists, such as Carmen Winant and Nan Goldin, have had a lasting impact on the photography world. He remains a giant in the field of conceptual photography, remembered for his curiosity and sharp wit.
! I mean, who else would capture the weirdness of porn set interiors and family portraits all at once? 
His approach to photography is so personal and introspective, it's like you're peeking into his own mind. The way he explores themes of consumer culture and societal norms is super thought-provoking 
. And have you seen "Pictures from Home"? It's like a masterclass in subtlety – how he captures the complexities of family dynamics without being too sentimental or heavy-handed is just genius 
. Sultan's legacy as a photographer and teacher is definitely one to be celebrated 
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but on a deeper level, it's actually really profound. he'd take photos of his own family members, like portraits of his parents, and it's so beautiful and yet also kinda unsettling? 
it's like he was trying to get to the heart of what makes american families tick, you know? and then there's his collabs with artists like mandel and winant, which is just amazing 
i love how sultan challenged societal norms through his work, especially in this series "evidence" where they took all these old archive images and turned them into something surreal 
. But what I love most about him is how he used photography to explore these complex themes without being too preachy or sentimental. He was all about challenging societal norms and making us think 
But the way he captures it is, like, totally not sentimental or anything...
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. There's something about his use of photography as a way to explore societal norms and consumer culture that resonates with me, I guess?
his use of his own family as subjects is so brave too, i mean who else would do that? 
it's like he was speaking straight to my soul. I mean, how many people can you think of who had such an intimate connection with their subjects? He wasn't afraid to expose the flaws and imperfections of his own family life, and that takes so much courage 
. And those photos from "Pictures from Home" are just heartbreaking in a beautiful way 
. I love how he blurred the lines between art and reality. It's like he was saying, 'Hey, this is what American domestic life really looks like.' 
. His use of family members as subjects, particularly in "Pictures from Home," allows him to probe deeper into themes like alienation and societal expectations 
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. It's clear that he had a unique perspective as a photographer, one that continues to inspire artists today 
. As we continue to navigate our own relationships with technology and consumer culture, I think his work remains more relevant than ever 
it's all super intimate and awkward at the same time. 
. But what I love about his approach is that it's all so... curious 
. He's not trying to tell you how to feel or what to think, he's just observing life in all its awkwardness 
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. I mean, who wants to put their parents on camera like that? But it's also really beautiful because you can see the complexity of his relationship with his dad and how it influenced his work 
. He may not be a household name, but he's definitely left an impact on the photography world 
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! Sultan was a true original, always pushing boundaries and challenging what's considered "normal". His legacy will be remembered for years to come, and I'm here for it 
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! his work was like peeking into the most private moments of americans lives, but also super uncomfortable at times 
. and can we talk about how he deconstructed consumer culture in his work? "Evidence" is like a masterclass in recontextualizing images to make us see things in a new light