Zoe Strauss is an installation artist and photographer from Philadelphia. The primary subjects in her photos are the people, buildings and street scenes in the less than posh neighbourhoods of south Philly. In a recent interview, Zoe described her craft, as well as her newest series America We Love Having You Here. When asked about her process, and whether or not the subjects of her works are aware that their being photographed, Zoe responded:
The people who I make photos of are strangers, and occasionally I get to know them after I’ve asked to make their photo… but for the most part I make the photo and that’s the end of our relationship.
Zoe’s photos are real, gritty, and oftentimes depressing depictions of life in America. That said, there are also traces of hope, as her photos involve real people dealing with real situations. Regarding the gravity of these scenes, and the possibility of emotional transference, she responded as follows:
Almost all of the people who I make photographs of are just going about their daily lives and there’s a whole range of things happening, some great, some horrible, most completely ordinary. When I make a photo of someone I usually get a lot out of the meeting and it’s almost always a positive encounter, even if it’s in a difficult situation.
Be sure to check out more of Zoe’s work, as well as the rest of the interview.
