Steinmetz, Girl Pulling Thorn, Suburb on the South of Chicago, 1990

Nearly thirty-five years ago, Steinmetz lived in a small apartment in Wrigleyville, Chicago. It was there that he created prints in a makeshift bedroom/darkroom, producing well-known series like The Players, Summertime, and Carnival, along with this previously unknown work made in our fair city.

Mark Steinmetz’s photographs are devoid of malice—they are full of compassion. His work is curious and respectful, asking questions without pretense, or judgments. He allows his subjects to express how they are feeling, rather than projecting his own—a rare quality in contemporary art. Steinmetz simply enjoys observing and sharing what he sees, a straightforward yet profound approach. The result is a series of powerful images capturing Chicagoans in their element, doing what they do best, in true Chicago fashion.