Janet Borden, Inc. presents Merry Christmas from Lee Friedlander, a new exhibition of photographs by Lee Friedlander. On his many trips across the U.S., Lee Friedlander has amassed pictures of cars, walls, landscapes, and people. These are recurring elements in Friedlander’s portrait of America. Now, he has sifted through them, in search of photographs celebrating Christmas. In true Friedlander fashion, we don’t get Hallmark visions of snowy fields, or cherubic carolers. Instead we get grimacing Santa masks, Barbie in the crèche, and neglected garlands, filthy from being left up all year.
Those who study Friedlander’s work can chart his various interests and styles in these photographs. Almost all are new or never before shown. Pictures from cars, and pictures of stoops jostle each other for space both honoring and lamenting our country’s love of Christmas. These photographs are funny, poignant, and once again, a stunning gift from a master photographer. Happy Holidays!
Lee Friedlander (American, b. 1934) is the preeminent working photographer today. He has received three Guggenheim Foundation Fellowships, as well as being the first photographer to receive a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Award (the “genius” grant). Monographs of his work include: Self-Portrait; American Monuments; Lee Friedlander: Photographs; Like a One-Eyed Cat; Factory Valleys; Nudes; The Desert Seen; American Musicians; Stems; America By Car. The Museum of Modern Art, New York, exhibited a major 500-print retrospective of his work in 2005. Lee Friedlander: In the Picture. Self-Portraits 1958 – 2011.
Merry Christmas from Lee Friedlander
On view until 31 December 2011.
