British documentary photographer Martin Parr has died at the age of 73. The Martin Parr Foundation announced on Sunday that he died peacefully on Saturday at his home in Bristol, where he had lived for decades.
Parr had been diagnosed with cancer in May 2021. His death marks the end of a career spanning nearly five decades, during which he became one of Britain's most acclaimed and sometimes controversial photographers, known for his vivid, colorful depictions of British life and culture.
The Martin Parr Foundation said: «It is with great sadness that we announce that Martin Parr died yesterday at home in Bristol. He is survived by his wife Susie, his daughter Ellen, his sister Vivien and his grandson George. The family asks for privacy at this time.»
Rise to Prominence
Born in Surrey in 1952 and raised in Epsom, Parr rose to prominence in the mid-1980s with his photographic series "The Last Resort." The work depicted working-class families on holiday in New Brighton, Merseyside, captured over three summers using vivid color photography at a time when British documentary photography was dominated by gritty black-and-white images.
The series faced significant criticism for what some saw as an unflattering portrayal of working-class life from a privileged viewpoint. But admirers defended his unflinching gaze at normal life. Parr himself said: «I make serious photographs disguised as entertainment.»
His work was characterized by acute observations of the English class system, often employing humor while critiquing tourism and consumerism. He told The Architectural Review in 2020: «I try to point out when I find universal truths. Truth is subjective, but it's the world how I found it.»
Magnum and Later Career
Parr's admission to the prestigious Magnum Photos agency in 1994 was controversial, passing by just one vote. Co-founder Henri Cartier-Bresson dismissed his work as «from another planet.» Welsh photographer Philip Jones Griffiths campaigned against him, saying: «Anyone who was described as Margaret Thatcher's favourite photographer certainly didn't belong in Magnum.»
Despite the opposition, Parr went on to serve as Magnum president from 2014 to 2017. He also launched the Martin Parr Foundation in 2014 to house his extensive archive and collection of British and Irish photography.
His later work explored garden parties, village fetes, and public swimming pools. He collaborated with Oxfam in 2011 to raise awareness of the climate crisis by photographing cultural figures with possessions they would save from floods. His "Black Country Stories" series from 2010 to 2014 examined immigration's role in rejuvenating the region.
Legacy and Recognition
Parr's work was exhibited and collected by major institutions including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. He received a CBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 2021 for his contributions to photography.
Jonathan Stephenson, who collaborated with Parr on art and design projects, told BBC News: «It was a massive privilege - and continually inspiring - to engage with Martin's eyes and mind. Martin's enthusiasm for everyday life was infectious.»
The Martin Parr Foundation and Magnum Photos will work together to preserve and share his legacy. Jenni Smith, director of the Martin Parr Foundation, confirmed to BBC News that Parr died peacefully while watching football.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
