Photographer Bryan Sansivero has dedicated his career to documenting the haunting beauty of America's abandoned houses, and his upcoming book "America the Abandoned" showcases this forgotten landscape through 200 striking photographs. The collection, set to be published by Artisan Books, captures deserted homes across the country that tell silent stories of lives once lived within their walls.
The phenomenon of abandoned houses has become increasingly prevalent across rural America, where shrinking populations leave behind empty dwellings. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 15 million abandoned houses dot the American landscape as of 2022. These structures are left behind for various reasons, including foreclosures, structural problems, and the deaths of inhabitants with no family members willing or able to maintain the properties and their contents.
Several factors contribute to this widespread abandonment across rural communities. Low birth rates, aging populations, and the decline or closure of local industries create a perfect storm for desertion. Additionally, younger generations continue migrating toward metropolitan areas in search of better employment opportunities and more diverse cultural amenities, leaving behind the homes of their ancestors.
Sansivero's photographic approach draws from his background in portraiture, allowing him to capture the personality and character of these empty structures. Despite being devoid of human presence, each abandoned house tells an enigmatic story through its weathered clapboard walls, overgrown vegetation, and forgotten belongings left behind by former residents.
The photographer's images reveal a wide spectrum of abandonment, from misty and haunting building facades to intimate interior spaces filled with the detritus of daily life. These rooms often contain layers of dust, mold, and various creatures that have made themselves at home, but occasionally house remarkable one-of-a-kind artifacts that serve as time capsules of American life.
Among the unique discoveries documented in Sansivero's work are extraordinary items that speak to different eras and personal histories. The publisher notes that these spaces sometimes contain fascinating relics such as tiger skin rugs, commemorative bicentennial pianos, and collections of mannequins, each item adding to the mysterious narrative of the abandoned spaces.
The interiors captured in the collection range from grand rooms that once hosted family gatherings to tiny vanities where personal grooming rituals took place daily. Some photographs show homes like "The Crooked House" and "The Queen Anne," structures that are gradually succumbing to the elements while still maintaining traces of their former architectural dignity.
Sansivero's work extends beyond simple documentation to create a broader commentary on the temporary nature of human possession and habitation. The collection serves as both an artistic endeavor and a sociological study, offering viewers an eerie reminder that all material belongings are ultimately temporary and will eventually be forgotten or abandoned.
The photographer's exploration of these forgotten dwellings reveals spaces strewn with garments, toys, knick-knacks, and decorative items that once held meaning for their owners. Empty farmhouses slowly sag into prairie landscapes, while suburban homes stand frozen in time with their contents intact, creating what Sansivero describes as a "spectral phenomenon ripe for storytelling."
"America the Abandoned" is scheduled for release on October 14, and readers can pre-order copies through Bookshop. Those interested in exploring more of Sansivero's photographic work can visit his official website and follow his Instagram account, where he continues to share his ongoing documentation of America's forgotten architectural heritage.
