Sylvia Plachy
photographer
Sylvia Plachy is a Hungarian-American photographer known for her extensive documentary and street photography work. Born in Budapest during World War II, she fled to New York City in 1958 following the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. She began her professional career in 1964, focusing on capturing the visual character of New York City's diverse occupants and culture. Plachy was an influential staff photographer for The Village Voice from 1974 to 2004. Her work has been exhibited internationally in galleries and museums across Europe, Asia, and North America. She is also a mother to actor Adrien Brody.[1,2,3]
- New York City street life
- documentary photography
- portraiture
Books
Works by Sylvia Plachy
- 1990 Sylvia Plachy's Unguided Tour First book; won the Infinity Award in 1991.
- 2005 Self Portrait with Cows Going Home Personal history of Central Europe.
- 1996 Red Light: Inside the Sex Industry Co-authored with James Ridgeway.
- 2000 Signs & Relics
- 2006 Out of the Corner of My Eye = De reojo
- 2007 Goings On About Town: Photographs for The New Yorker
Exhibitions
- 2024 It happened in New York: Photographs by Sylvia Plachy
Awards
- 1977 Guggenheim Fellowship
- 1991 Infinity Award for best publication
- 2004 Lucie Award
- 2005 Golden Light Award for best book
- 2010 Dr. Erich Salomon Award