Mary Ellen Mark’s Enduring Attitude
Mary Ellen Mark may have been inside young Sean Penn’s dressing room and even headed to the Philippines with Marlon Brando, but the late photographer, who died last year, took just as much of an interest—more, actually—in the unknown and the disadvantaged. “Attitude: Portraits by Mary Ellen Mark, 1964–2015,” an exhibition of dozens of her photos currently at New York’s Howard Greenberg Gallery, showcases Mark’s 50-year career, which took her everywhere from India, where she documented circuses and prostitution rings, to Seattle, where she investigated the unexpected epidemic of homeless youth. (She ended up following one of them, Tiny, for more than 30 years.) See her career in pictures here.
1
“Amanda and her cousin Amy, Valdese, North Carolina, USA,” 1990.
Photo by Mary Ellen Mark, courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery.
2
“Sean Penn in his dressing room, Manhattan, New York,” 1983.
Photo by Mary Ellen Mark, courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery.
3
“Clayton Moore, the Former Lone Ranger, Los Angeles, California, USA,” 1992.
Photo by Mary Ellen Mark, courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery.
4
“Contortionist with Her Puppy Sweety, Great Raj Kamal Circus, Upleta, India,” 1989.
Photo by Mary Ellen Mark, courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery.
5
“Craig Scamardo + Cheyloh Mather, Young Bull Riders – Boerne Rodeo, Texas,” 1991.
Photo by Mary Ellen Mark, courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery.
6
“Gloria and Raja, Great Gemini Circus, Perintalmanna, India,” 1989.
Photo by Mary Ellen Mark, courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery.
7
“Marlon Brando during the Filming of Apocalypse Now, Philippines,” 1976.
Photo by Mary Ellen Mark, courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery.
8
“Tiny blowing a bubble, Seattle,” 1983.
Photo by Mary Ellen Mark, courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery.
9
“Beautiful Emine posing, Trabzon, Turkey,” 1965.
Photo by Mary Ellen Mark, courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery.
10
“Husband and Wife, Harlan County, Kentucky,” 1971.
Photo by Mary Ellen Mark, courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery.
11
“Chrissy Damm and Adam Johnson, Llano, California,” 1994.
Photo by Mary Ellen Mark, courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery.
