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Marc Alcock
Hollywood Juniper, from "California Topiary," 2015/2021
Archival pigment print, 20 x 16 inches
Edition 3/7, signed, on mount
Unframed
Courtesy of the artist and Sarah Shepard Gallery
Estimated value: $1,500
In 2010 Alcock moved to San Francisco from the north of England. In contrast to the homogeneous style of residential architecture in his hometown, he found the buildings in California endlessly unique and playful in their design. In the resulting series, "California Topiary," Alcock photographed a series of homes around the Bay Area with a distinct relationship to plants and nature.
The photographs describe the ways in which we manipulate the natural environment to suit our needs and aesthetic. The home portraits encourage us to welcome and value these considered qualities in our built environment, specifically how plants can function as sculpture—whether monumental, wild, or artfully manipulated. The photograph being offered in the auction is an iconic image from this series. "California Topiary" became a self-published book by Alcock in 2018.
About the Artist:
Marc Alcock
Marc Alcock is a British photographer based in San Francisco. His projects often deal with the visual language of environments. Through sequencing and an attention to the unique form, color, and texture of a place, his images hint at stories beyond the frame. Marc Alcock is originally from Blackpool, England, graduated from the University of Leeds, and relocated to California in 2010.
In 2018 Alcock published the book California Topiary, documenting homes around California with a special relationship between architecture and nature. The photographs describe the ways in which we manipulate the natural environment to suit our needs. Alcock’s work has been published in photography journals such as IGNANT, Formagramma, Domus, Booooooom, and Creative Review.
Website: marcalcock.com | sarahshepardgallery.com
Instagram: @marcalcock | @sarahshepardgallery
