Melissa O’Shaughnessy
Contemporary photographer · United States
The theatre of passers-by.
The story
Melissa O’Shaughnessy lives and works in New York. After studying journalism and art history, then working in publishing and investment, she turned to photography. The street became her field of observation, bringing together passers-by, movements and chance encounters. Her first monograph, Perfect Strangers, was published by Aperture in 2020. She is a member of the UP Photographers collective.
Understanding the work
Intersecting gestures and glances can connect strangers within a scene. Observe the distribution of colours and how the eye moves between figures.
Key works and series
Perfect Strangers: New York City Street Photographs.
