Vivian Maier an undiscovered artist

Published March 14, 2011
John Maloof looks at Vivian Maier's negatives on a light table at his home in Chicago.
John Maloof looks at Vivian Maier's negatives on a light table at his home in Chicago.
John Maloof scans negatives taken by Vivian Maier at his home in Chicago helped by an assistant in the background.
John Maloof scans negatives taken by Vivian Maier at his home in Chicago helped by an assistant in the background.
Some hundreds of unprocessed rolls of film that Vivian Maier exposed years ago.
Some hundreds of unprocessed rolls of film that Vivian Maier exposed years ago.
Maloof Colection Ltd. shows an undated and untitled self portrait of Vivian Maier.
Maloof Colection Ltd. shows an undated and untitled self portrait of Vivian Maier.
Lane Gensburg, whose family hired Vivian Maier as their nanny when he was a boy, looks at a display case of her unprocessed film, 

an 8mm movie reel and her cameras, during the opening exhibit of her street photography at the Chicago Cultural in Chicago.
Lane Gensburg, whose family hired Vivian Maier as their nanny when he was a boy, looks at a display case of her unprocessed film, an 8mm movie reel and her cameras, during the opening exhibit of her street photography at the Chicago Cultural in Chicago.
Sept. 1956 photograph provided by Maloof Colection Ltd. showing a woman standing next to a bus was taken by Vivian Maier, titled “Sept., 1956, New York, N.Y.
Sept. 1956 photograph provided by Maloof Colection Ltd. showing a woman standing next to a bus was taken by Vivian Maier, titled “Sept., 1956, New York, N.Y.
A woman in a white fur stole and evening dress was taken by Vivian Maier, titled “January 9, 1957, Florida.
A woman in a white fur stole and evening dress was taken by Vivian Maier, titled “January 9, 1957, Florida.
Life on the streets of New York was taken by Vivian Maier, titled “September 28, 1959, 108th St. East, New York, N.Y.
Life on the streets of New York was taken by Vivian Maier, titled “September 28, 1959, 108th St. East, New York, N.Y.
A woman in a veil and fur coat was taken by Vivian Maier, titled “Uptown West, New York, N.Y.”
A woman in a veil and fur coat was taken by Vivian Maier, titled “Uptown West, New York, N.Y.”
An exhibit of Vivian Maier's photography at the Chicago Cultural Center, shows a 1984 letter sent to Maier soliciting her services as a nanny in Chicago.
An exhibit of Vivian Maier's photography at the Chicago Cultural Center, shows a 1984 letter sent to Maier soliciting her services as a nanny in Chicago.
A boy on a horse was taken by Vivian Maier, titled “August 11, 1954, New York.
A boy on a horse was taken by Vivian Maier, titled “August 11, 1954, New York.
Two unidentified boys was taken by Vivian Maier, titled “Canada.”
Two unidentified boys was taken by Vivian Maier, titled “Canada.”

Vivian Maier, who worked as a nanny, scoured the streets day and night, venturing into strange and sometimes dicey neighborhoods. Her constant companion was a camera. Over five decades, she shot tens of thousands of photos. Few were seen by anyone but her. That's the way she wanted it. But that's all changed now, thanks to John Maloof who stumbled upon a huge grocery box in an auction house, discovered her work and has now become her champion.–AP Photo

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