Collected works

More about the book

This collection presents a comprehensive overview of Gordon Parks' photography spanning five decades, documenting his legendary career as one of the most influential African-American photographers of the twentieth century. Parks skillfully combined documentary and artistic styles with a deep commitment to social justice, initially working for the Farm Security Administration and later for Life magazine. He focused on extended narrative stories addressing complex issues such as crime, poverty, segregation, and race relations, showcasing his ability to blend insight with a lyrical aesthetic. His work introduced diverse audiences to often-overlooked subjects and ideas. Parks was versatile, capturing news events, fashion, and cultural scenes worldwide. Later in life, he adopted a more personal and poetic approach, creating allusive color photographs. Born in 1912 in Fort Scott, Kansas, Parks overcame poverty and segregation, eventually becoming a self-taught photographer after buying a camera from a pawnshop. He also excelled as a film director, author, and composer, notably popularizing the Blaxploitation genre with his film Shaft. Parks received numerous accolades, including the National Medal of Arts and over fifty honorary degrees. His retrospective exhibition, “Half Past Autumn: The Art of Gordon Parks,” was held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1997. Parks passed away in 2006.