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Bill Owens — Suburbia
Bill Owens

Suburbia

Bill Owens' "Suburbia" is a comprehensive photographic documentation of American suburban life in the 1970s, comprising 117 gelatin silver prints that capture the quotidian routines, aspirations, and peculiarities of suburban residents through candid portraiture and domestic scenes. Shot in the San Jose area of California, Owens' direct and unflinching approach reveals both the humor and pathos inherent in suburban culture, presenting his subjects with anthropological curiosity rather than overt judgment. The work stands as a significant sociological document and landmark of New Topographic photography, examining the relationship between individuals and the constructed environments they inhabit.

Medium
Suite of 117 gelatin silver prints, printed 1998.

🔨 Auction Lot

Photographs

April 2, 2025

Lot 186

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About this work

Bill Owens, Suburbia

Bill Owens' "Suburbia" is a comprehensive photographic documentation of American suburban life in the 1970s, comprising 117 gelatin silver prints that capture the quotidian routines, aspirations, and peculiarities of suburban residents through candid portraiture and domestic scenes. Shot in the San Jose area of California, Owens' direct and unflinching approach reveals both the humor and pathos inherent in suburban culture, presenting his subjects with anthropological curiosity rather than overt judgment. The work stands as a significant sociological document and landmark of New Topographic photography, examining the relationship between individuals and the constructed environments they inhabit.

Medium
Suite of 117 gelatin silver prints, printed 1998.
Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

20th Century, Everyday aesthetics, Color Photography, 1970s, Documentary Photography, American Artist, Social Commentary, Series Format, Ironic, Suburban Life

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