Lee Friedlander's Seven-Decade Portrait of Wife Maria at Fraenkel Gallery

Fraenkel Gallery in San Francisco is presenting 'Lee Friedlander: Maria', an exhibition of approximately 50 photographs that trace the artist's relationship with his wife Maria from the 1950s to the 2020s. The show, which spans seven decades, documents their life together through scenes of everyday moments—Maria reading, driving, talking on the phone, and lying in the sun. The images reflect Friedlander's distinctive style and his enduring appreciation for Maria's self-possessed fashion sense, capturing her in print dresses and oversized sunglasses. Some portraits are simple acts of admiration, while others incorporate his idiosyncratic visual approach, such as her silhouette casting a shadow on a newspaper at breakfast. A new hardcover publication accompanies the exhibition, offering a comprehensive look at this lifelong portrait. The exhibition is on view at Fraenkel Gallery, a venue known for its focus on photography and modern masters.