Fortunately for all of us, Lori Grinker is hard to categorize. Photojournalist, documentary photographer, conceptual artist, collage artist, installation artist, filmmaker and bookmaker whose work walks a fine line between reportage and fine-art. She has been a full-time working photographer for over three decades. Several weeks ago, in the remote wilds of Maine, she was nice enough to sit down with me to talk about photography, her career and her new book on Mike Tyson. (Now available for purchase.)
Her projects, which revolve around the themes of history, culture, and identity have garnered many awards, including a New York Foundation for the Arts Grant, the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fellowship, the Ernst Haas Grant, an Open Society Audience Engagement Grant, Hasselblad Foundation Grant, the Center (Santa Fe) Project Grant, a World Press Foundation First Prize, and is a 2005 Ochberg Fellow of the Dart Center on Journalism and Trauma.
In a photography world filled with hype and social media influencers, Lori personifies the opposite by creating in depth work often requiring years to produce. She is a truly committed artist who deflects the hype in exchange for quality and for the relationship with those she photographs. She has traveled extensively and has completed assignments in conflict zones but has also turned the camera on the most private and personal aspects of her life closer to home. Her story is a lesson for all of us and also a tale of perseverance and passion. Join us for a listen.
Comments 1
What a great podcast. Lori is so incredibly talented, thanks Dan.