Burk Uzzle (American, b. 1938), Shredded Trash

Archival pigment print, 2005, framed.

Sight size 29 1/2 x 37 in.; Frame dimensions 35 x 42 1/2 in.

Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Burk Uzzle is a renowned American photographer whose career spans more than six decades. A former Magnum Photos member and the youngest photographer hired by LIFE magazine, he is known for his compelling documentary work on American life, civil rights, and social justice. His famous image of Nick Ercoline and Bobbi Kelly wrapped in a blanket at the 1969 Woodstock festival remains one of the event's most iconic pictures, and his snapshots of Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral are a powerful testament to a pivotal moment in American history.

Returning to North Carolina in later years, Uzzle established his studio in Wilson, North Carolina, where he creates work exploring Southern identity and underrepresented communities. His deep connection to the American South informs his contributions to the Southbound Project, a major photography initiative exploring the evolving culture of the American South.

Uzzle’s work is held in major collections including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; and the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia.

About this project, Uzzle writes: "Fascinated by tiny particles of shredded trash that cumulatively surround one another to reveal new form, I was attracted to their abstract and charming portraits, each of a different professional. I collected bags of this ‘trash’ from a novelist, erotic artist, medical professional, accountant, and others including my discarded and shredded proofs. I placed this shredded trash under the camera in identical positions. The uniformity of camera position, composition, and lighting offered stark contrasts among each as the bits of pieces revealed their body parts (numbers, words, colors, etc.) I showed these pictures both individually and collectively in a stitched composition."

Excellent condition; not examined out of frame.