Acclaimed American photographer Sally Mann has released a new book titled "Art Work: On the Creative Life," offering practical advice and inspiring stories for aspiring artists navigating the unpredictable creative industries. The veteran documentary photographer, known for her haunting and sometimes controversial imagery, shares insights drawn from decades of experience in her latest work, which follows her bestselling 2015 memoir "Hold Still."
Mann's career has been marked by both praise and criticism, particularly for her earlier series "Immediate Family," which featured child nudity and sparked controversy. Critics and Christian groups claimed her portraits were exploitative and disturbing, while supporters championed her work as an unflinchingly honest account of family life and the American South. Despite the criticism, her artistry has remained undeniable, with her work possessing a haunting, timeless appeal while retaining urgency and immediacy.
The photographer's images often incorporate surrealist elements that transform everyday moments, sometimes altering them beyond recognition while maintaining their inherent beauty. Even during times of social and political turmoil, Mann has held true to her guiding principle of creating beautiful work. "I think there's a real benefit in creating something beautiful," she told Dazed magazine.
In her new book, Mann emphasizes that suffering for your art is a necessity, stressing the importance of building character through hard work and perseverance. "You don't have to be a martyr, but work hard and roll with the punches," she explains. "Speaking from my experience, I know that, had it all been handed to me, I wouldn't probably push myself as I do. I think character is maybe just another word for persistence and determination. Not having anything given to you tends to work for you."
Regarding when to begin an artistic career, Mann firmly believes it's never too late to start. She was 17 in the late 1960s when she decided to fully commit to photography, but she tells aspiring artists, "Look how old I am, and I'm still committed to art. You can start anytime." Her advice is straightforward: "Don't worry about your age, worry about your work. Don't worry about how famous you're becoming or whether or not the work is getting out there; it'll get out there if it's good enough."
Mann warns against the dangers of premature success in her chapter "The Hazards of Early Promise." She believes early fame can be a hindrance to true artistic achievement, explaining, "Early fame insidiously undercuts you; it makes you think it's too easy, and it isn't easy. It's never going to be easy, no matter how famous you get early on." She has observed many young artists start with great fanfare only to fizzle out when they realize the difficulty of sustaining success.
While acknowledging that connections can help, Mann emphasizes that consistent, quality work over time cannot be ignored. "Good work is undeniable. And it will be found because it's so rare," she states. "But it sure does help to have connections, oh god, yeah. That's why people go to art schools and work in galleries and go out to after-opening-dinners with important people."
Concerning the modern phenomenon of smartphone photography and social media, Mann expresses concern about its impact on artistic development and memory. She observes people with thousands of images on their phones, noting, "I see people scroll through their phone and they have like 6,000 images. The images are just spinning before your eyes. So I'm just wondering what effect that's having on people in terms of discernment." She believes excessive photo-taking may actually destroy actual memory and hinder both descriptive and imaginative abilities.
Mann is unequivocal about the importance of never giving up on artistic ambitions. "Oh, you should never call it quits. If you want to be an artist, you don't give up," she insists. "Maybe you take another job or you change the work you're doing or something, but never ever quit. There's no time limit on artistic ambition. I don't mean fame, I mean the never-ending desire to make another good piece of work."
The photographer advocates for periodic disappearance from public view to focus on creating work, quoting her friend John Dickerson: "To be great, you have to disappear." She explains, "There's no mystery to it, you get more work done if you disappear. People spend an inorganic amount of time trying to get famous, sometimes that comes back and bites them in the ass." Despite pressure from her gallery and others to maintain an Instagram presence, Mann chooses to focus her time on creating rather than promoting her work.
"Art Work: On the Creative Life" by Sally Mann was published by Particular Books and released on September 2, 2025, offering a comprehensive guide for anyone seeking to succeed in the creative industries while maintaining artistic integrity.
