Martin Parr

Martin Parr is one of the world’s most iconic and celebrated photographers. In his work, he gives us a fascinating and often controversial insight into British life and culture. His documentary style of photography captures ordinary moments with a unique and irreverent wit. Parr’s works are known for their vibrant colors and telling social commentary on British society. They are often absurd and absurdist in their view of modern life, often presenting a surreal visual world.

Martin Parr was born in Epsom, Surrey, England in 1952. He attended Manchester Polytechnic's School of Art and Design, where he completed a BA in photography in 1974. From there, Parr went on to gain his MA in photography at the Royal College of Art in 1977.

Throughout his career, Parr has experimented with different themes and artistic approaches to photography. In the early stages of his career, his focus was on documenting ‘the everyday’, capturing seemingly mundane moments and objects in a new and vivid light. His subsequent work became more pertinent to contemporary society, documenting the cultural landscape, everyday rituals and the politics of class. Far from a traditional documentary style of photography, Parr is celebrated for his humorous and often derogatory depictions of British culture.

One of Parr’s best known works is his book ‘The Last Resort’; a collection of photographs taken over a period of five years in the late ‘80s. By traversing the seaside tourist hotspot of New Brighton, Liverpool, Parr created a series of cuttingly honest and thought-provoking photos that captured the mundane beauty of the area and the people that inhabit it. He has also produced several other photo books on subjects as varied as UK holiday camps, queues and food.

In addition to his photographic projects, Parr is a curator and collector of photography. He is the director of the Martin Parr Foundation, a charitable organization aimed at promoting the art of photography and providing a platform for emerging photographers. The Martin Parr Foundation manages an extensive photography archive and is dedicated to the exploration and promotion of documentary photography. and contemporary art.

Parr’s work has been published and exhibited widely, garnering international acclaim. His images have graced the covers of leading British magazines and newspapers, can be found in several major art galleries and museums, and were even used in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London in 2012. He has also been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including the Henri Cartier-Bresson Award and the Royal Photographic Society’s Hood Medal.

Martin Parr is widely regarded as one of the most influential photographers of the last fifty years. His work is both timeless and instantly recognizeable; a testament to his unique and often controversial view of contemporary British life. Through his selection of subject matter, vivid use of color and off-beat sense of humor, Parr has created an instantly recognizable photographic style which many aspiring and professional photographers seek to emulate.