Robert Frank: Hope Makes Visions

Commemorating the photography giant’s centennial, with a new text by the famed poet and writer Ocean Vuong

Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of his medium, Robert Frank broke new ground with his candid, poignant images of American life in the mid-20th century. Published on the occasion of the exhibition at Pace in New York, and in celebration of the centennial of Frank’s birth, Robert Frank: Hope Makes Visions presents an in-depth look at the photographer and filmmaker’s process across various media. Through a selection of his lesser-known photographs, collages, sketches and maquettes from 1955 to 2016, a new portrait of the artist emerges, one that shows his commitment to growth and experimentation throughout his career. With a new text by Ocean Vuong, author of the award-winning On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous (2019), this volume is a sensitive homage to a canonical artist.
Robert Frank was born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1924. He spent most of his adult life living between New York City and Nova Scotia, Canada, where he died in 2019. Frank was a photographer and filmmaker best known for his groundbreaking monograph The Americans (1958). Over his decades-long career, Frank captured the complexities of contemporary life with a distinct style and poetic insight.