08.05.12
John Foster | Accidental Mysteries

Accidental Mysteries

In 2007, the discovery of an unknown street photographer by the name of Vivian Maier (1926-2009) rocked the world of art photography. While infirm and near death, the former nanny/photographer was unable to make the payments on a storage locker, and the contents sold at auction. Consequently, there were three key people who ended up with the lion’s share of the work — all of whom recognized the quality of the work right away. Most talked about are John Maloof and Jeffrey Goldstein, but the third and less recognized is Chicago collector Ron Slattery. It was Ron who first brought attention of Miss Maier to the public eye with this July 2008 post on his website, Big Happy Funhouse. The images here are all from the Ron Slattery Collection, who owns thousands of vintage prints and negatives. The Chicago gallery Corbett vs. Dempsey recently ended an exhibition of vintage Vivian Maier prints from the Slattery Collection, most of which are shown for you today on Accidental Mysteries. Maier’s work is highly sought after by private collectors and major museums.

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier

Accidental Mysteries is an online curiosity shop of extraordinary things, mined from the depths of the online world and brought to you each week by John Foster, a writer, designer and longtime collector of self-taught art and vernacular photography. “I enjoy the search for incredible, obscure objects that challenge, delight and amuse my eye. More so, I enjoy sharing these discoveries with the diverse and informed readers of Design Observer.”

Editor's Note: All images are copyright of their original owners.


Posted in: Accidental Mysteries, Photography




Jobs | March 28