“My surroundings always influence my life and artwork. It’s where I am and what makes me smile”
– Meryl Meisler
“COLOR TELEVISION” (1977). New Orleans, Louisiana. All images © Meryl Meisler,
Before cameras became ubiquitous and the billions of instantly sharable and instantly forgettable pictures formed the backdrop to our more insular digital lives, Meryl Meisler was on the street taking pictures of things she noticed and wanted to see again.
As is the way of photographers possessed of curiosity, passion and that elusive ‘good eye’, Meryl’s pictures are better because like artists who we look at and think ‘ if I could paint, I’d paint like him’, she shows us slices of who we are.
Now a selection of the New York-born photographer’s pictures of 1970s America have been published in a new monograph, Street Walker.
Individually, the pictures are witty, alluring and naturalistic. Seen together and their multiplicity makes up less capricious parts of the same puzzle: who are we and what on earth are we doing?
“A&W Carhop” (1970). North of San Francisco, California
“Jungle Gym (Elaine, Juan, Leslie, Suzanne & Kids)” (1980). New York, New York
“Marion Windexes Window” (1976). North Massapequa, New York
“Fixing Car Jacked Up on Beck St” (1978). The Bronx, New York
“Coned Canine Sniffs Hydrant Near Judi” (1978). Jupiter, New York, New York
“Man in Van” (1978). Times Square, New York, New York
Meryl Meisler was born in 1951 in the South Bronx and raised in North Massapequa, Long Island. Inspired by the works of Diane Arbus, Jacques Henri Lartigue, and her own family, Meisler began her photographic journey in the 1970s. Meisler has been honored with numerous awards and her work is part of permanent collections in prestigious institutions such as the Brooklyn Historical Society, the Library of Congress, and the American Jewish Congress.
Meisler’s artistic approach blends elements of documentary and street photography, characterized by a playful yet insightful perspective. Her work often explores themes of identity, community, and the interplay between public and private life. Throughout her career, Meisler has maintained a unique ability to capture spontaneous and candid moments.
Youc an see more of her work here.
“Long Hair & Bell Bottoms Dance at Going My Way” (1978). Madison, Wisconsin
“Twin Toddlers and Doll in Strollers” (1978). New York, New York
“MOVIES 25¢ Bat Boy” (1977). New Orleans, Louisiana
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