In Conversation with Henry Horenstein

Henry Horenstein is an American photographer, who studied history at the University of Chicago and earned his BFA and MFA at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he has held the position of Professor of Photography since the 1970s. A student of legendary photographers including Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind, and Minor White, Horenstein cites these figures as encouraging his compelling approach to composition and subject matter.

Describing himself as a documentary photographer, Horenstein’s work largely concerns fringe, working-class, and under-recognised communities. Focused on themes of heritage and storytelling, series such as Close Relations, Honky Tonk, and Speedway 72 offer intimate and exciting glimpses into the 1970s. Horenstein concerns himself with the experience of bluegrass pickers, race car drivers, and legendary country venues such as Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville and the Hillbilly Ranch in Boston.

Henry Horenstein’s work is collected and exhibited internationally, and he has published over forty books. Horenstein's legendary work has been widely recognised, the Smithsonian Institution listing him as one of the ten defining figures in the history of portrait photography, alongside icons like Julia Margaret Cameron, Dorothea Lange, and Richard Avedon.