University Art Gallery to Exhibit Work of Photographer Vivian Maier

The Cal Poly University Art Gallery will be showing the work of amateur photographer Vivian Dorothea Maier beginning Thursday, Jan. 9, through Friday, Feb. 14.

The collection of Maier’s photography pieces seeks to answer the questions: Who was she? Why didn’t she exhibit her work when she was alive? How was she able to capture such extraordinary images? Maier’s work was never published or exhibited during her lifetime, but the posthumous release of her work has taken the photography world by storm.

Born in New York City, Maier grew up in France and later returned to the U.S. where she spent almost 40 years working as nanny in Chicago. During her residence in Illinois, she took more than 100,000 photographs, mostly of people and cityscapes.

Her photographs remained unknown and primarily undeveloped until discovery by Chicago historian and collector John Maloof in 2007 — almost two years before her death. Following her passing however, her work began to receive critical acclaim and has been exhibited in the United States and across Europe.

The exhibition is free and open to the public. For details and gallery hours, visit the gallery website.