Eva Verbeeck's 'America's Girls' Photo Book Explores Teenage Girlhood Across 28 States
Published by GOST, Eva Verbeeck's photo book, America's Girls, On the Edge of a Dream, delves into the journeys of young American women as they explore their identities. The inspiration for this project arose when Verbeeck, intrigued by the culture of American teenagers, came across cheerleaders in Savannah, Georgia. Between 2018 and 2024, she photographed hundreds of girls aged six to 18 across 28 states, engaging participants through open calls and youth organizations. Each girl either brought a personal item or opted for a session without one. Verbeeck utilized large format cameras to encourage dialogue and included interviews and letters that reflect on themes of friendship, family, aspirations, and fears, capturing the intricacies of girlhood in contemporary America.
Key facts
- Eva Verbeeck's photo book America's Girls, On the Edge of a Dream is published by GOST.
- The project was photographed between 2018 and 2024 across 28 states.
- Hundreds of girls between the ages of six and 18 participated.
- The starting point was an encounter with young cheerleaders in Savannah, Georgia.
- Verbeeck grew up in Belgium and was fascinated by the cultural mythology of the American teenager.
- Participants were recruited through open calls, schools, youth organisations, cheerleading squads, sports teams and marching bands.
- Each girl was asked to bring one object of personal significance, though some chose to be photographed without any object.
- Photographs were made primarily using 4×5 and 8×10 large format cameras.
Entities
Artists
- Eva Verbeeck
Institutions
- GOST
- GOST books
- PetaPixel
Locations
- Belgium
- Savannah
- Georgia
- United States
- Tessenderlo
- Alabama
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia