Mary Ellen Mark
1940–2015 · United States
Building a lasting relationship.
The story
Mary Ellen Mark made reportage and portraits centred on people often underrepresented or confined by stereotypes. She photographed streets, institutions, families and the entertainment world. Streetwise and her subsequent work with Tiny testify to a relationship sustained over many years. Her work connects the strength of an image with the responsibility that comes from a photographer’s extended presence.
Understanding the work
Observe the space given to people within the frame and over time. Read successive series: a powerful photograph cannot encompass the whole story of a life or its many transformations.
Key works and series
Ward 81; Falkland Road; Streetwise; Tiny: Streetwise Revisited.
Sources & further exploration
Works in collections.
3 recordsPhotographs to explore on museum and library websites, with titles, dates and processes. Each link opens the collection record and its image where one is available.
