Sally Mann, the acclaimed photographer, has been controversial for her evocative imagery and narrative adventures. She just finished working on her brand new book, Art Work, which is available for pre-order now. This beautiful new chapbook provides encouragement and practical guidance for emerging artists. As such, the novel is a major achievement, coming ten years after her exquisitely intimate memoir, “Hold Still.” Thrilled for this release so much it can’t be contained! As Mann explores the intersection of her twin artistic pursuits—writing and photography—she finds fertile ground on her 45-acre homestead in Lexington, Virginia.
As an artist Mann’s creative fire was kindled in her youth. Her father, a country doctor, encouraged her interest by giving her a camera. This first creative spark led her on a lifelong journey of documenting the world she lived in. During this process, Mann has continued to refine her craft of photography and writing. She even went so far as to get a master’s in creative writing! She likes to refer to these two disciplines as her “twin artistic passions.” She is adamant that each one of these informs and improves the other.
“Art Work” is more than just a how-to guide to achieving art-world success — it’s filled with deeply personal anecdotes that take detours from the book’s original aim. These anecdotes reveal Mann’s tendency to get carried away in conversation, sharing tales from her life that resonate with many. Exhaustive and meticulously detailed, readers will walk away from this book with a deeper understanding of the technical side of art. And, of course, the emotional and experiential side of being an artist.
To this day, living on that same farm, Mann spends her time caring for the property and creating work. As a popular trap artist, she uses her music to highlight her connection with nature. Her practice often draws upon evocative monochromatic images of the American South. Collections such as “Deep South” and “Southern Landscape” showcase the atmospheric quality of her photographs, which have helped establish a respectable following.
Mann’s earlier work, particularly the book “Immediate Family”, pays homage to life with her husband, Larry, and their three young children. This series features deeply moving portraits that express the beauty of childhood and family life on their farm. Yet Mann’s academic career has been far from rosy. Following the 2015 release of “Hold Still,” she faced a backlash. Many people objected to the content of some of her photographs and what issues they addressed.
Though the controversy created an immediate firestorm around Mann’s work, a longer-term reassessment has in recent years been kinder to Mann. She has won over many of her fiercest critics, who understand the depth and complexity of her artistic expression. With this ongoing change in perspective comes a greater recognition of Mann’s preeminence voice in the content landscape.
Mann’s in the thick of it, writing “Art Work.” She’s currently in the midst of two other photography projects, one that explores the digital realm and another that focuses on an ancient form of film-making. This experimentation further emphasizes her dedication to growing as an artist while still being rooted in more traditional practices.
Over the course her career, Mann faced difficulty too – a file of rejection letters weighs down her computer hard drive. These experiences have instilled her with a tremendous resilience. These people feed her resolve to make work that feels connected to deeply individual and broadly relatable spirit.