Alec Soth: Sleeping by the Mississippi

Evolving from a series of road trips along the Mississippi River, Alec Soth’s early body of work, Sleeping by the Mississippi, captures America’s iconic yet oft-neglected “third coast.” Soth’s richly descriptive, large format color photographs describe an eclectic mix of individuals, landscapes, and interiors.

Color photograph of a post-card sized picture of a mountain river tacked to a wall of wood paneling and yellow patterned wallpaper
A color photograph of a white, red-haired woman in front of a fence. She has a black ash cross on her forehead.
Color photograph of a tree in a cemetery, with long Spanish moss hanging from the branches. A small group of teenagers sits below the tree, in the grass.
Color photograph of a turquoise door leaning against a turquoise wall
A color photograph of a ball of string in the corner of a room. A small patch of blue flowered wallpaper is on the drywall above it.
Color photograph of a man seated at a piano keyboard through an open blue French door
A color photograph of a wood-paneled room, with a black and white autographed portrait hung on the wall. Gold streamers are hung across it.
Color photograph of two men leaning on the hood of a car parked on a crossing over a wide ditch
Color photograph of a young woman sitting in a red corner booth in an all-red room with paper hearts on the wall
A color photograph of a book in front of a window with green curtains. On top of the book is a long knife and a piece of brown bread in a plastic bag.
A color photograph of a framed mirror on a wall, surrounded by faded snapshots, with a lightbulb hanging from a wire in front of it.
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Related Portfolios

Alec Soth: Untitled
A color photograph shows a view of the audience from the podium of a lecture hall.

Alec Soth: Advice for Young Artists
Black and white photograph of two people tossing a rock outdoors

Alec Soth: Songbook
Color image of seated man holding box labeled 'Photos' surrounded by stacks of paper

Alec Soth: A Pound of Pictures