The World’s Most Famous Unknown Photographer: Introducing the World of Vivian Maier

Few stories in photography are as remarkable as that of Vivian Maier. Working as a nanny in New York and Chicago, she explored the city streets with the children in her care, camera always at hand. From this unique position, she captured the rhythms, characters, and unexpected moments that define urban life. From the 1950s to the 1980s, she created a striking visual portrait of post-war America – one that remained hidden for decades. Discovered only after her death, Maier’s photographs have since secured her place among the greatest street photographers of the twentieth century.

Fotografiska’s major autumn exhibition, Vivian Maier: Unseen Work, presents a comprehensive exploration of Maier’s rich and multilayered archive, offering a captivating glimpse into twentieth-century America and the hidden shadows of the American Dream.

The special opening-week tour will be led by exhibition curator Anne Morin, one of the foremost experts on Vivian Maier’s work. Morin has curated several exhibitions dedicated to Maier and is the director of the Madrid-based photography platform diChroma photography.