Larry Sultan: Here and Home is the first retrospective to examine the work and career of California photographer Larry Sultan (1946–2009). It explores Sultan’s 35-year career, from his early collaborative projects of the 1970s to his own documentary-style photographs. These solo projects explore themes of home and family, as well as the construction of identity, façade and storytelling. Frequently photographing domestic life and suburban settings, Sultan examines reality, fantasy, longing and displacement throughout his work.
“As an artist, Larry Sultan was one of the great thinkers of photography in all of its facets,” said Clément Chéroux, senior curator of photography at SFMOMA. “He had the unique power and insight to transform certain forms of functional photography into art.”
“Sultan’s work is a key part of the SFMOMA collection of photography made in California,” said Sandra S. Phillips, exhibition curator and curator emerita of photography at SFMOMA. “In light of Sultan’s more than 30-year teaching career in the Bay Area, and his close relationship with SFMOMA, Sultan’s work will truly be coming home as the touring exhibition Here and Home concludes in San Francisco.”
Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel, Untitled, from the series Evidence, 1977, printed 2013; gelatin silver print; © Estate of Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel, Untitled, from the series Evidence, 1977, printed 2013; gelatin silver print; © Estate of Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel, Oranges on Fire, 1975; photo mural; © Estate of Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan, Untitled, from the series Swimmers, 1978–82; chromogenic print; © Estate of Larry Sultan; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan, Practicing Golf Swing, from the series Pictures from Home, 1986; chromogenic print; © Estate of Larry Sultan; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan, Business Page, from the series Pictures From Home, 1985; chromogenic print; © Estate of Larry Sultan; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan, My Mother Posing for Me, from the series Pictures From Home, 1984; chromogenic print; © Estate of Larry Sultan; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan, Discussion, Kitchen Table, from the series Pictures From Home, 1985; chromogenic print; © Estate of Larry Sultan; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan, Dad with Golf Clubs, from the series Pictures From Home, 1987; chromogenic print; © Estate of Larry Sultan; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan, Mom on Chaise Lounge, from the series, Pictures from Home, 1987; chromogenic print; © Estate of Larry Sultan; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan, Sunset, from the series, Pictures from Home, 1989; chromogenic print; © Estate of Larry Sultan; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan, Boxers, Mission Hills, from the series The Valley, 1999; chromogenic print; © Estate of Larry Sultan; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan, Sharon Wild, from the series The Valley, 2001; chromogenic print; © Estate of Larry Sultan; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan, Woman in Curlers, from the series The Valley, 2002; chromogenic print; © Estate of Larry Sultan; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan, Canal District, San Rafael, from the series Homeland, 2006; chromogenic print; promised gift of Robert Mailer Anderson and Nicola Miner to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; © Estate of Larry Sultan; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan, Batting Cage, from the series Homeland, 2007; chromogenic print; promised gift of Michal Venera to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; © Estate of Larry Sultan; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Larry Sultan, Backyard Hercules, from the series Homeland, 2009; chromogenic print; promised gift of Nion McEvoy to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; © Estate of Larry Sultan; photo: courtesy the Estate of Larry Sultan
Images courtesy San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.