Katy Grannan

Katy Grannan relies on local newspapers to find her subjects. The people she photographs are complete strangers to her. This adds a level of intimacy and the feeling of trust to her work. She focuses on capturing these strangers in their surroundings. Grannan pays close attention to the details of the background. Whether it’s from the intricately patterned wallpaper or the tall, uncut grass that her subject lounges in. She believes that the subject’s environment is a key element in a person’s character. She utilizes harsh sunlight against white stucco walls. To bring out the details of the stranger’s persona. 

Grannan’s photography is a mixture between intimate and awkward.Her photographs have a strong sense of secrecy, desire, and hidden desires. She considers her photographs portraits. Her subjects wear as little as they feel comfortable.  In each photograph, the viewer can recognize similar qualities of risk, vulnerability, and, ultimately, empathy between the photographer and her subjects. Grannan accepts that each person has a rich history, with its victories and defeats. Her images can only show so much, but it makes the viewer question about their own pathway in this life.