Auto Focus features a dazzling array of self-portraits by seventy-five of the world’s foremost contemporary photographers. Photography writer and curator Susan Bright provides a clear guide through this significant and dynamic genre, showing how issues of identity—whether national, sexual, racial, personal, or artistic—are key to understanding the work of many of today’s leading photographers. This lavishly illustrated, accessible survey is organized into five thematic chapters: diaristic and autobiographical images; pictures of the body; the use of masks and masquerade; the return to studio portraiture and the photographic album; and performance, both public and private. An informative illustrated introduction explains the history of the photographic self-portrait from the 1840s to the late twentieth century, providing an invaluable context for the recent surge in artists’ images of themselves. From intimate images of introspection and those that consciously challenge notions of ethnicity and sexuality to dramatic, stylized photographs of dreamlike scenarios, Auto Focus shows how one of the longest-established artistic genres continues to fascinate artists today.

Tarek Al-Ghoussein Shokoufeh Alidousti Anas Al-Shaikh Ananké Asseff Walead Beshty Sian Bonnell Slater Bradley Elina Brotherus Ana Casas Broda Nick Cave Serge Comte Kelli Connell Janieta Eyre Thomas Florschuetz Joan Fontcuberta Samuel Fosso Anna Fox LaToya Ruby Frazier Gaüeca Nan Goldin Marnix Goossens Aneta Grzeszykowska Sunil Gupta Jeff Harris Lyle Ashton Harris Anita Khemka Shigeyuki Kihara Oleg Kulik Charles Latham Nikki S. Lee Hew Locke Melanie Manchot Malerie Marder Annu Palakunnathu Matthew Boris Mikhailov Arno Rafael Minkkinen Tracey Moffatt Rod Morata Yasumasa Morimura Trish Morrissey My Little Dead Dick Yurie Nagashima Ni Haifeng Susanne Nørregård Nielsen Ken Ohara Lisa Ohlweiler Catherine Opie Tatsumi Orimoto Chino Otsuka Florence Paradeis Tatiana Parcero Martin Parr Paul+a Dita Pepe Shannon Plumb Julie Pochron Airyka Rockefeller Tracey Rose Nanna Saarhelo Tomoko Sawada Zineb Sedira Jo Seub Siya Singh Jemima Stehli Camilla Sune Vibeke Tandberg Sam Taylor-Wood Christian Thompson Danny Treacy Gillian Wearing Erwin Wurm Noriko Yamaguchi Kimiko Yoshida Zhang Huan Zhu Ming