Vivian Maier

The other day, I caught the tail end of the most incredible story on the radio about the secret life of Vivian Maier. A full time nanny living in Chicago in the 60s, Vivian captured over 100,000 vivid portraits of street life with her Rolleiflex. The only thing is nobody, not a single person, knew about her secret hobby and talent until after her death just a few years ago. Her work was only discovered after a real estate agent bought her storage trunk, loaded with negatives, at auction for a mere $380. Needless to say her, insightful work captured the attention of photographic masters, art experts and collectors everywhere, earning her a posthumous reputation as one of America’s most accomplished and insightful street photographers. Vivian’s mysterious life story adds even more depth to her captivating, vulnerable and intimate square format photographs.

November 4, 1955, San Francisco, CA

July 27, 1954, New York, NY

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vivianmaier4

1954, New York, NY

January 1956

April 7, 1960. Florida

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Undated, Chicago, IL

Undated, New York, NY

Undated, New York, NY

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May 5, 1955. New York, NY

August 1960. Chicago, IL

August 16, 1956, Chicago, IL

Emmett Kelly as the clown figure "Weary Willie", Undated

Undated, New York, NY

1950s, Canada

1960. Chicago, IL

Undated, Chicago, IL

June 27, 1959, Asia

Undated

September 1953, New York, NY

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July 10, 1959, Aden, Yemen

1955, New York, NY

November 8, 1955

December 1962. Chicago, IL

Undated, Canada

(Check out the trailer for the documentary “Finding Vivian Maier” and be sure to catch the exhibition of her work which is on tour now)

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23 Comments

  1. Mira wrote:

    Wow she was amazing. I love the photos 😀

    xx Mira

    http://www.glamdevils.com

    4.1.14
    Reply
  2. Vivian’s photographs and story are equally amazing. I received her book as a present and it is one of my favorite. I can not wait to watch the movie. Great post.

    4.1.14
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  3. Iren wrote:

    Stunning photos, I’m in love <3

    xoxo Iren
    http://www.liakw.com

    4.1.14
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  4. I read her story in the newspaper some moth ago!! she took so many good pictures!!! I love her work!!

    http://www.stelstyle.com

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  5. Andi wrote:

    These are each so amazing in their own way!

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  6. lauren wrote:

    these photos are wonderful. such a lovely story as well
    Lauren
    livinginaboxx

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  7. An original street photographer simply doing what she loved. Not for fame, not for notoriety. Just for herself. Love the diversity. She was a true artist.

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  8. Loving the photos! So beautiful and sweet! 🙂

    ANDREA

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  9. Gorgeous post! These pictures are really moving!
    http://fashionmusingsdiary.blogspot.fr

    4.1.14
    Reply
  10. Riana wrote:

    These photos are amazing! Capturing, developing, and printing from film are incredibly tough. What a gem!

    rianajohnson.blogspot.com

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  11. Lisa wrote:

    Lovely pictures.
    L x
    http://workingmumy.blogspot.com

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  12. Paul Klein wrote:

    There’s another great documentary that the BBC made about Vivian Maier that’s available on iTunes, Amazon, etc. Check it out!

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Vivian-Maier-Mystery/dp/B00GG0NOBA

    4.1.14
    Reply
  13. Chrystin wrote:

    What a cool story!! Her photos are incredible! I wish her exhibition would come to Argentina…

    http://amateandarottweiler.blogspot.com.ar/

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  14. Katie wrote:

    These are beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

    4.1.14
    Reply
  15. Sinead wrote:

    Wow – I hadn’t heard of her over here – but this is an incredible story. What a shame that her talent never had the recognition it deserved when she could benefit from it. Though I love that she did it for the passion and not for the fame.

    4.1.14
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  16. Emilia wrote:

    what fantastic photos!! incredible composition.. such striking images. thank you so much for sharing and introducing us to this amazing artist.

    4.2.14
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  17. Jill wrote:

    I heard that story on the radio too – KCRW, and wanted to see the pictures. That’s so great you posted them!

    4.7.14
    Reply
  18. Shivani wrote:

    There’s a documentary made by the guy who first discovered her pictures… Beautifully put together- the secret life of Vivian Meyer. Enchanting.
    I think she invented selfies…

    1.3.16
    Reply
  19. Shivani wrote:

    Sorry, Finding Vivian Meyer : / is the name!!

    1.3.16
    Reply