Philip-Lorca diCorcia is an American photographer and filmmaker who has been widely acclaimed for his innovative and often controversial works. Born in 1951 in Hartford, Connecticut, diCorcia studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York City before beginning his career as a commercial photographer.
In the early 1980s, diCorcia began to experiment with staged photography, creating images that were both documentary and theatrical. His work often featured everyday people in unexpected settings, such as a homeless man sleeping on a park bench or a woman walking down a city street. These images were often accompanied by text that provided additional context for the viewer.
In the 1990s, diCorcia began to explore more conceptual themes in his work. He created series such as “Hustlers” (1993-1999), which featured male prostitutes posing for portraits in public places; “Heads” (2000-2001), which featured close-up portraits of strangers; and “East of Eden” (2003-2005), which explored themes of identity and mortality through photographs taken at cemeteries across America.
Throughout his career, diCorcia has received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including the International Center of Photography Infinity Award for Art (1998) and the Hasselblad Foundation International Award in Photography (2006). His photographs have been exhibited at major museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. In addition to his photography, diCorcia has also directed several short films and documentaries.