Larry Sultan's photography career was marked by an affinity for the mundane and ordinary aspects of American domestic life. He drew inspiration from his surroundings in suburban California, often incorporating elements of kitsch and irony into his work.
One notable series, "The Valley", captures the essence of rented-out homes in the San Fernando Valley, filled with ornate furniture, tacky decorations, and staged scenes that blur the lines between reality and fantasy. The photos are both fascinating and uncomfortable to watch, revealing the artificial nature of these sets while also highlighting the desires and anxieties of the people involved.
Sultan's use of humor and irony is evident in his approach to documenting everyday life. He photographed everything from Paris Hilton relaxing with a piece of toast and raspberry jam to his own parents at home, capturing their quirks and insecurities on film. These images are tender and affectionate but also convey a sense of ambivalence towards the American Dream.
Sultan's work is characterized by a hazy familiarity and an eye for the idiosyncratic, often revealing hidden truths beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary scenes. His photographs can be seen as a form of forensic investigation, searching out evidence of the complex emotions and desires that underlie everyday life.
In addition to his photography, Sultan was also an accomplished writer and teacher. He wrote extensively on photography and art history, while teaching at California College of the Arts for over two decades. His students remember him fondly as a kind, sharp, and devoted educator who instilled a love of learning in them.
The collection "Water Over Thunder" offers a unique glimpse into Sultan's life and work, piecing together his reflections on photography, art history, and his own personal experiences. Through his writing and images, we gain insight into the mind of this enigmatic photographer, whose work continues to fascinate audiences today.
One notable series, "The Valley", captures the essence of rented-out homes in the San Fernando Valley, filled with ornate furniture, tacky decorations, and staged scenes that blur the lines between reality and fantasy. The photos are both fascinating and uncomfortable to watch, revealing the artificial nature of these sets while also highlighting the desires and anxieties of the people involved.
Sultan's use of humor and irony is evident in his approach to documenting everyday life. He photographed everything from Paris Hilton relaxing with a piece of toast and raspberry jam to his own parents at home, capturing their quirks and insecurities on film. These images are tender and affectionate but also convey a sense of ambivalence towards the American Dream.
Sultan's work is characterized by a hazy familiarity and an eye for the idiosyncratic, often revealing hidden truths beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary scenes. His photographs can be seen as a form of forensic investigation, searching out evidence of the complex emotions and desires that underlie everyday life.
In addition to his photography, Sultan was also an accomplished writer and teacher. He wrote extensively on photography and art history, while teaching at California College of the Arts for over two decades. His students remember him fondly as a kind, sharp, and devoted educator who instilled a love of learning in them.
The collection "Water Over Thunder" offers a unique glimpse into Sultan's life and work, piecing together his reflections on photography, art history, and his own personal experiences. Through his writing and images, we gain insight into the mind of this enigmatic photographer, whose work continues to fascinate audiences today.
he was all about capturing the weirdness in everyday life and making it uncomfortable to watch, but in a good way you know? like paris hilton relaxing with toast and raspberry jam is literally the most iconic thing ever 
. his photography has this hazy familiarity vibe that makes you feel like you're sipping tea with him, sharing secrets 
. i love how he blended humor with a sense of ambivalence towards the american dream – it's like he's saying "hey, let's celebrate our quirks and insecurities together!" 
he was all about capturing the weirdness in american domestic life, you know? like those staged scenes in "The Valley" are wild 
️ seriously though, sultan's work is all about revealing the complex emotions behind everyday moments. he's not just capturing reality, he's like a detective searching for clues 
and i love that he was also super talented as a writer and teacher 
I also love how he's not afraid to show the messy, imperfect side of life – it's like, we're all in this together, you know? 
He's so good at capturing the weirdness in everyday life, you know? Like, have u seen "The Valley" series? It's wild how he exposes the artificiality of these staged scenes... it's both fascinating & uncomfortable to watch 
At the same time, u can tell he's trying to show us something deeper, like our desires & anxieties. He uses humor & irony to get that point across, which makes his pics so tender & affectionate, yet also kinda ambivalent towards the American Dream 
larry sultan's photography is like, SO iconic right now - who else could make suburban california look so... relatable? 
and can we talk about how he used humor and irony to capture the american dream? it's like he's poking fun at it while still loving it 
and his writing is so insightful it's like he's giving you a masterclass on life and photography 
i feel so grateful that his students got to experience him as a teacher, he sounds like an amazing educator 
i mean, who hasn't had a moment where they just wanna relax w/ toast and jam like paris hilton lol? anyway, sultan's work is all about revealing the artifice beneath the surface of everyday life 
he's like a forensic photographer for emotions 
and his writing is so insightful 
I started thinking about how our perception of reality can be so skewed by our surroundings like in those photos of Larry Sultan's they're all staged but you can still feel this weird unease that something's off? anyway, after Big Sur I stopped at this tiny cafe for a cuppa and I saw the funniest thing on their menu - " existential crisis, $5" lol I mean what's up with that? 
anyway, his use of humor and irony is so inspiring, it's like he was always poking fun at the superficiality of everyday life 
Anyway, I think what's really interesting about Sultan's work is how it makes you feel all these emotions - from nostalgia to discomfort - like, you're right there in the middle of the scene with him. 
. I mean, take Larry Sultan's photography career, for example. He was all about capturing the mundane and ordinary, but honestly, it just seems like he was observing the same old stuff we all see every day - cluttered homes, tacky decorations... yawn 
. He photographed Paris Hilton and her toast, for crying out loud! What does that even say about him? That he's fascinated by superficiality? 
.