Nan Goldin

Nancy "Nan" Goldin (born September 12, 1953) is an American photographer. She lives and works in New York City, Berlin, and Paris. She is known for her work, which usually features LGBT-related themes, images or public figures.

Life and work

Goldin was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in the Boston suburb of Lexington, to middle-class Jewish parents. Goldin’s father worked in broadcasting, and served as the chief economist for the Federal Communications Commission. After attending the nearby Lexington High School, Goldin left home at 13-14. She enrolled at the Setya Community School in Lincoln, where a teacher, Philosopher Rollo May’s daughter introduced her to the camera in 1968. Goldin was then fifteen years old. Her early influences were Andy Warhol's early films, Federico Fellini, Jack Smith, French and Italian Vogue, Guy Bourdin and Helmut Newton.