Model American

After one becomes established in their career, they tend to take on less contemporary influences, but Katy Grannan’s work was an exception. Her complex and vulnerable portraits for the Model American project were a revelation to me. They felt both alienating and deeply human.

She agreed to meet up to make a portrait during my recent San Francisco trip, but would only be available after dark, as she lived in the north of the state and was only coming into the city the evening before my flight home.

She was relaxed and friendly upon meeting in person after a long digital correspondence. At a couple of points I asked her to lie on the ground, reminiscent of her portraits, and she was agreeable to it. I definitely appreciated this, as the streets are pretty filthy with garbage and dog urine (I did not bring this up, but we all know what happens on city streets.)

Images: My favorite portraits from the session with Katy Grannan. San Francisco, CA, January 19, 2026.