Philadelphian, Zoe Strauss is a conceptual artist and photographer. She is well known for her striking, honest and often unnerving photographs of America that she describes as “the beauty and struggle of everyday life.” Those photos all being part of an annual installation under an interstate in Philadelphia.
Her career skyrocketed with the inclusion of her work in the 2005 Whitney Biennial and more recently with her second solo exhibit at Bruce Silverstein Gallery in NY and the release of her first book, America through Ammo Books.
This video uses new footage and footage taken during the production of If You Break the Skin You Must Come In, the feature length documentary directed by myself for the Institute of Contemporary Art about Strauss in which she was interviewed by teenagers in the Philadelphia foster care system. The video explores the intent behind Strauss’ annual installation under I95 and her relationship with her subjects.
this version on vimeo here is easier to embed
