Renowned British Photographer Martin Parr, Famous for 'The Last Resort,'
Dies at 73
My Egypt
Tributes are pouring in for Martin Parr, one of
the most influential documentary photographers of his generation, who has
passed away at the age of 73.
Parr, celebrated for his satirical and vibrant
documentation of British life—most notably in his seminal collection The Last Resort—died on Saturday at his home in Bristol.
The Martin Parr Foundation confirmed the news in a
statement, saying: “It is with great sadness that we announce that Martin Parr
(1952-2025) died at home in Bristol.
Martin will be greatly missed.”
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| Renowned British Photographer Martin Parr, Famous for 'The Last Resort,' Dies at 73 |
Renowned British Photographer Martin Parr, Famous for 'The Last Resort,' Dies at 73
A Legacy of Capturing 'Real' Life
Parr revolutionized documentary photography with
his unique ability to capture the unvarnished reality of social classes and
leisure. He is best remembered for The Last Resort, a groundbreaking series from the 1980s that
documented working-class holidaymakers in New
Brighton.
The collection was hailed for moving away from
traditional black-and-white documentary styles, using saturated color to depict
the "social climate" of the era.
In a testament to his enduring legacy, Parr
returned to New Brighton
in the 2024 documentary Am Martin Parr. Despite limited mobility due to health issues,
he reshot his most famous work with the aid of a mobility scooter,
demonstrating his lifelong dedication to his craft.
Honors and Accolades
Throughout his career, Parr was recognized as a
major figure in the visual arts.
- CBE: He was appointed a Commander of the Order of
the British Empire (CBE) in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services
to photography.
- Awards: In 2016, he received a prestigious award for
his contribution to visual arts following a nomination by artist Grayson
Perry.
Perry described
Parr as a "phenomenon," stating: “He is a major player in the whole
culture of photography... not just in the body of work that he’s done, which I
love, but also just as a champion of photography as an art form.”
Recent Works and Health
Parr remained active in the arts community until
the end of his life, despite being diagnosed with myeloma, a type of blood
cancer, in 2021.
His recent exhibitions included Only Human: Martin Parr at the National Portrait Gallery in 2019, which
explored British identity in the wake of the EU referendum. Earlier this year,
he collaborated with photographer JJ Waller for Beside The Sea, an open-air exhibition featuring large-scale
images displayed on bus shelters across Brighton.
Preserving a Legacy
In 2017, the photographer established the Martin Parr Foundation in Bristol. The foundation is dedicated to
preserving photographic works and supporting emerging and overlooked
photographers focusing on Britain
and Ireland.
The Foundation, alongside the renowned agency Magnum Photos, has pledged to work together to
preserve and share Parr’s extensive archive.
Martin Parr is survived by his wife Susie, his
daughter Ellen, his sister Vivien, and his grandson George. The family has
requested privacy during this time.
