Alec Soth: Broken Manual

Color photograph of a man resting his head on a mossy rock on the forest floor

Black and white photograph of an open book with the centers of its pages cut away to create a box-like structure

Color photograph of a man standing outside of an open box truck overlooking a green valley

Black and white photograph of a store front and single lamppost at the end of a dirt road at dusk

Color photograph of a man in camouflage standing amid low trees overlooking a gas station

Black and white photograph of the interior of a rocky cave

Color photograph of a shed built into a cliff face overlooking a flat valley

Color photograph of an gap in the bushes nearby a gas station

Black and white photograph of a school bus converted into a trailer home in a snowy trailer park

Color photograph of the interior of a mobile home with a bed and glass jug

Black and white photograph of a stack of VHS tapes each labeled in handwriting

Color photograph of a concrete house facade built into a red stone cliff face

Alec Soth: Broken Manual

Alec Soth2008_02zl0189

2008

chromogenic print, 16 x 20 inches (image & sheet) [40.6 x 50.8 cm], edition of 7

Alec Soth2008_08zL0063

2008

pigment print, 16 x 19 inches (sheet) [40.6 x 48.3 cm], edition of 7

Alec SothThe Arkansas Cajuns backup bunker

2007

pigment print, 32 x 40 inches (image & sheet) [81.3 x 101.6 cm], editiion of 7

Alec Soth2006_12zl0012

2006

pigment print, 32 x 40 inches (image & sheet) [81.3 x 101.6 cm], edition of 7

Alec SothEdsel’s Hideaway. (spring)

2006

pigment print, 11 x 14 inches (image) [27.9 x 35.6 cm], edition of 7

Alec Soth2006_12zL0067

2006

pigment print, 32 x 40 inches (image & sheet) [81.3 x 101.6 cm], edition of 7

Alec SothUtah

2008

pigment print, 32 x 40 inches (image & sheet) [81.3 x 101.6 cm], edition of 7

Alec SothEdsel’s Hideaway. (summer)

2007

pigment print, 11 x 14 inches (image) [27.9 x 35.6 cm], edition of 7

Alec Soth1999_13xl009

1999

pigment print, 16 x 19 inches (sheet) [40.6 x 48.3 cm], edition of 7

Alec Soth2006_12xl0138

2006

pigment print, 16 x 19 inches (sheet) [40.6 x 48.3 cm], edition of 7

Alec Soth2007_10zL0030

2007

pigment print, 30 x 24 inches (image & sheet) [76.2 x 61 cm], edition of 7

Alec Soth2008_08zL0238

2008

pigment print, 32 x 40 inches (image & sheet) [81.3 x 101.6 cm], edition of 7

Black and white photograph of two people tossing a rock outdoors

Alec Soth: Songbook

From 2012 to 2014 Soth traveled the United States looking for signs of social life in our era of virtual social networks. From upstate New York to Silicon Valley, he attended hundreds of meetings, dances, festivals and family gatherings.

Black and white photograph of cheerleader in midair split — Alec Soth, Bree, Liberty Cheer All-Stars, Corsicana, Texas, 2012

pigment print, 43 x 56 inches (sheet) [109.2 x 142.2 cm], edition of 9 + 3 APs

Black and white photograph of a group of individuals dancing while covered in foam — Alec Soth, Crazy Legs Saloon, Watertown, New York, 2012

pigment print, 58 x 76 inches (sheet) [147.3 x 193.4 cm], from an edition of 9 + 3 APs

Black and white photograph of a lone man walking across an empty courtyard — Alec Soth, Facebook. Menlo Park, California, 2013

pigment print, 43 x 56 inches (sheet) [109.2 x 142.2 cm], from an edition of 9 + 3 APs

Black and white photograph of motel parking lot with looming clouds just over the building — Alec Soth, Magic Castle Inns and Suites, Kissimmee, Florida, 2012

pigment print, 43 x 56 (sheet) [109.2 x 142.2 cm], edition of 9 + 3 APs

Black and white photograph of teens dancing at prom — Alec Soth, Prom #2. Cleveland, Ohio, 2012

pigment print, 42-3/4 x 55-5/8 inches (sheet & mount) [108.6 x 141.3 cm], edition of 9 + 3 APs

Black and white photograph of house covered in greenery — Alec Soth, Near Gainesville, Georgia, 2014

pigment print, 58 x 76 inches (sheet) [147.3 x 193.1 cm], edition of 9 + 3 APs

Black and white photograph of framed portrait of a man with sunglasses on — Alec Soth, Robert E. “Bob” Wiatt. College Station, Texas, 2013

pigment print, 34 x 28 inches (sheet) [86.4 cm x 71.1 cm], edition of 9 + 3 APs

Black and white photograph of man holding glass globe in front of face causing distortion — Alec Soth, The last snow globe repairman, Northfield, Minnesota, 2012

pigment print, 28 x 36 inches (sheet) [71.1 x 91.4 cm], edition of 9 + 3 APs

Alec SothRound Rock, Texas

2013

pigment print, 28 x 36 inches (sheet) [71.2 x 91.4 cm], edition of 9 + 3 APs

Alec SothBree, Liberty Cheer All-Stars, Corsicana, Texas

2012

pigment print, 43 x 56 inches (sheet) [109.2 x 142.2 cm], edition of 9 + 3 APs

Alec SothCrazy Legs Saloon, Watertown, New York

2012

pigment print, 58 x 76 inches (sheet) [147.3 x 193.4 cm], from an edition of 9 + 3 APs

Alec SothFacebook. Menlo Park, California

2013

pigment print, 43 x 56 inches (sheet) [109.2 x 142.2 cm], from an edition of 9 + 3 APs

Alec SothMagic Castle Inns and Suites, Kissimmee, Florida

2012

pigment print, 43 x 56 (sheet) [109.2 x 142.2 cm], edition of 9 + 3 APs

Alec SothProm #2. Cleveland, Ohio

2012

pigment print, 42-3/4 x 55-5/8 inches (sheet & mount) [108.6 x 141.3 cm], edition of 9 + 3 APs

Alec SothNear Gainesville, Georgia

2014

pigment print, 58 x 76 inches (sheet) [147.3 x 193.1 cm], edition of 9 + 3 APs

Alec SothRobert E. “Bob” Wiatt. College Station, Texas

2013

pigment print, 34 x 28 inches (sheet) [86.4 cm x 71.1 cm], edition of 9 + 3 APs

Alec SothThe last snow globe repairman, Northfield, Minnesota

2012

pigment print, 28 x 36 inches (sheet) [71.1 x 91.4 cm], edition of 9 + 3 APs

Color image of seated man holding box labeled 'Photos' surrounded by stacks of paper

Alec Soth: A Pound of Pictures

In photographs made on a series of road trips across the U.S., Soth records people and locations with subtle connections. The series features images that reference photography itself, investigating the physicality of the medium and its limited ability to preserve what is fleeting.

Color image of minivan in cemetery with furnace plant in background — Alec Soth, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 2019

pigment print, 32 x 40 inches (image) [81.3 x 101.6 cm], edition of 9

Color image of a reclined male on leather sofa with two pairs of legs also in frame — Alec Soth, Cooper. Chicago, Illinois, 2019

pigment print, 40 x 50 inches (image) [101.6 x 127 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Color image of waterfall with two photographers in foreground — Alec Soth, Bond Falls, Michigan, 2019

pigment print, 40 x 50 inches (image) [101.6 x 127 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Color image of a seated woman with book in hand looking towards camera — Alec Soth, Anna. Austin, Texas, 2021

pigment print, 40 x 50 inches (image) [101.6 x 127 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Color image of woman holding rope around a large tree amongst verdant surrounding — Alec Soth, Molly. Morenci, Michigan, 2019

pigment print, 32 x 40 inches (image) [81.3 x 101.6 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Color image of nude male model posing in life drawing classroom with two students drawing — Alec Soth, Plastic Arts Club. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2019 / printed 2021

pigment print, 40 x 50 inches (image) [101.6 x 127 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Color image of a person with binoculars in grain field with large cloud of smoke on the horizon — Alec Soth, Birdwatching. Linfield, Pennsylvania, 2019

pigment print, 32 x 40 inches (image) [81.3 x 101.6 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Color photograph of a bedside table in a mirrored bedroom corner — Alec Soth, Harvard House. Hollywood, California, 2020

pigment print, 43-1/2 x 53-1/2 inches (mount) [110.5 x 135.9 cm], edition of 9 + 4 AP

Color image of a road surrounded by verdant greenery — Alec Soth, Abstract Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2021

pigment print, 32 x 40 inches (image) [81.3 x 101.6 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Color photograph of a hotel bed covered in small color photographs — Alec Soth, The Coachlight. Mitchell, South Dakota, 2020 / printed 2021

pigment print, 43-1/2 x 53-1/2 inches (mount) [110.5 x 135.9 cm], edition of 9 + 4 AP

Alec SothNeil. Winona, Minnesota

2019

pigment print, 24 x 30 inches (image) [61 x 76.2 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Alec SothBethlehem, Pennsylvania

2019

pigment print, 32 x 40 inches (image) [81.3 x 101.6 cm], edition of 9

Alec SothCooper. Chicago, Illinois

2019

pigment print, 40 x 50 inches (image) [101.6 x 127 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Alec SothBond Falls, Michigan

2019

pigment print, 40 x 50 inches (image) [101.6 x 127 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Alec SothAnna. Austin, Texas

2021

pigment print, 40 x 50 inches (image) [101.6 x 127 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Alec SothMolly. Morenci, Michigan

2019

pigment print, 32 x 40 inches (image) [81.3 x 101.6 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Alec SothPlastic Arts Club. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2019 / printed 2021

pigment print, 40 x 50 inches (image) [101.6 x 127 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Alec SothBirdwatching. Linfield, Pennsylvania

2019

pigment print, 32 x 40 inches (image) [81.3 x 101.6 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Alec SothHarvard House. Hollywood, California

2020

pigment print, 43-1/2 x 53-1/2 inches (mount) [110.5 x 135.9 cm], edition of 9 + 4 AP

Alec SothAbstract Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

2021

pigment print, 32 x 40 inches (image) [81.3 x 101.6 cm], edition of 9 + 4 APs

Alec SothThe Coachlight. Mitchell, South Dakota

2020 / printed 2021

pigment print, 43-1/2 x 53-1/2 inches (mount) [110.5 x 135.9 cm], edition of 9 + 4 AP

A photograph of a young man lying on a bed, as seen through a partially open sliding door. Pink flowers on the left.

Alec Soth: I Know How Furiously Your Heart Is Beating

Taking its name from a line in Wallace Stevens’s poem “The Gray Room,” this body of work investigates the possibilities and limitations of what photographs can convey about the inner lives of their subjects. Intimate and quiet, the images reveal something otherwise unknowable about both the sitter and the photographer.