The Lives of Women

The American photographer (1940–2015) viewed herself as not merely a witness but also an advocate and ally of her protagonists, whose often precarious lives she made visible with remarkable dedication. Today, her oeuvre is considered one of the most significant contributions to humanist photography. 

Against the backdrop of the women's rights movement and the male-dominated genre of photojournalism, Mary Ellen Mark consciously chose to place women and girls at the centre of her stories. She often stayed in touch with the people she portrayed long after the original reportage project. 

With this showcase of around 100 photographs, Vienna’s WestLicht Museum presents the largest exhibition of Mary Ellen Mark’s work in Austria to date. In addition to excerpts from the artist’s most important reportages, the display features iconic images from the 1960s to the 2000s – further complemented by films, books and magazine publications.