William Eggleston

William Eggleston is known for his pioneering work in color photography, which he helped establish as a serious artistic medium. Using a color intense, dye-transfer printing process and working within the seemingly artless snapshot style, Eggleston photographed everyday life, adhering to a philosophy of the “democratic camera” that ignored representational hierarchies. The images in the Los Alamos series were taken between 1965 and 1974 during Eggleston’s travels in the American South and West. The 88 prints in the exhibition include the first image in this body, taken in his hometown of Memphis, as well as pictures of the Mississippi Delta, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and more.

William Eggleston: Los Alamos is organized by the Museum Ludwig, Cologne. Major funding for SFMOMA’s presentation is provided by the James Family Foundation.