Adam Bartos Yard Sale
Extension Cord, 2008.
Fishing Rods, 2008.
Pink Glasses, 2008.
Honda Wheel, 2008.
Ernie & Mattress, 2008.
Bags, 2008.
Keyboard & Flower, 2008.
Silver Van, 2008.
Vacuum, 2008.
Vises & Reels, 2008.
Artist's Statement
Yard sales, highly popular across the United States, affordably recycle essential household goods and clothing within local communities, significantly extend the life of objects, help to regulate overconsumption, and reduce waste.
Originally an unintentional sustainability practice, this form of localised business has grown during the recession. The yard sale economy contrasts starkly with the Walmartisation of America, which relies heavily on the rapid exploitation of natural resources, and employs fossil-fuel intensive processes to enable the ever increasing global manufacture and transport of new goods to market.
About the photographer
1953, New York, United States
American
New York, United States
Adam Bartos attended NYU film school. He produced and was the cinematographer for the 2001 HBO documentary, The Laughing Club of India, directed by Mira Nair.
His books include:
- Darkroom, Steidldangin, Spring 2012 – winner of Gold Prize, German Photobook Awards, 2013
- Yard Sale Photographs, Damiani Editore, 2009
- Boulevard, Essay by Geoff Dyer, Steidldangin, 2006
- KOSMOS, Essay by Svetlana Boym, Princeton Architectural Press, 2001
- International Territory: The United Nations, 1945-1995, Text by Christopher Hitchens. Verso, 1994
His work is included in the permanent collections of:
Museum of Modern Art, New York; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles; Portland Art Museum, Oregon; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Addison Gallery of American Art, Andover; Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis; The Parrish Art Museum, Southampton; The Henry Art Gallery, Seattle, and others.
Consumption Shortlist
Michael Schmidt, Lebensmittel, 2006-2010
Adam Bartos, Yard Sale, 2008
Motoyuki Daifu, Project Family, 2007-2011
Rineke Dijkstra, Almerisa, 1994-2008
Hong Hao, My Things, 2001-2009
Mishka Henner, Beef & Oil, 2013
Boris Mikhailov, Tea, Coffee & Cappuccino, 2000-2010
Abraham Oghobase, Untitled, 2012
Allan Sekula, Fish Story, 1988 -1995
Laurie Simmons, The Love Doll, 2010