Carol M. Highsmith
Born in 1946 · United States
A photographic portrait of America intended for the public.
The story
Carol M. Highsmith documents the United States through its buildings, landscapes, inhabitants and vernacular signs. Inspired in particular by Frances Benjamin Johnston, she is interested in places that are changing or at risk of disappearing. She has donated her photographs to the Library of Congress since 1992, facilitating public access. The collection forms an archive attentive to everyday life as well as monumental heritage.
Understanding the work
Compare monuments with ordinary buildings and roadside details. A territory can also be read through its uses, decoration and traces of activity.
Key works and series
America; architectural restorations in Washington; landscapes and vernacular signs.
