Martin Parr

(British, born 1952)

Martin Parr is a contemporary British photographer. Best known as a chronicler of life in provincial England, his unconventional observation of human behaviors serves as a mirror to reflect society’s values. Exploring themes of consumerism, globalization, and social stratification, Parr’s humorous yet visually seductive take on life is exemplified in his photobook The Last Resort (1986). “Unless it hurts, unless there's some vulnerability there, I don't think you're going to get good photographs,” he has said. Born on May 23, 1952 in Epsom, United Kingdom, he studied photography at Manchester Polytechnic from 1970 until 1973. Parr switched from black-and-white to color photography in 1984, joining peers such as Paul Graham. He went on to produce a number of series including Life’s a Beach (1986), and became a member of the revered collective Magnum Photos in 1988. Along with his numerous photobooks, the artist has also pursued filmmaking and fashion editorial work. He currently lives and works in London, United Kingdom. Today, Parr’s works are held in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin, among others.