Alec Soth is an American photographer born on May 11, 1969, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is known for his large-format color photographs that capture the complexity and beauty of American life. Soth began his career as a newspaper photographer in Minnesota but quickly became interested in creating more personal work. He is considered one of the leading photographers of his generation and has exhibited his work in galleries and museums around the world.
Soth's most notable work is his series "Sleeping by the Mississippi," which he began in 1999 and completed in 2002. The series consists of 46 large-format color photographs of people, landscapes, and objects along the Mississippi River. The images are melancholic and poetic, and they offer a unique perspective on American life. "Sleeping by the Mississippi" has been widely acclaimed and is considered one of the most important photographic works of the 21st century.
In addition to "Sleeping by the Mississippi," Soth has produced many other notable bodies of work, including "Niagara," "Broken Manual," and "Songbook." His photographs are included in the collections of major museums such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Soth has also received numerous awards and honors for his work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Bush Foundation Fellowship, and the Infinity Award from the International Center of Photography. He has also published several books of his photographs, including "Sleeping by the Mississippi," "Niagara," and "Gathered Leaves."