Sylvia Plachy facts for kids
Sylvia Plachy, born on May 24, 1943, is a talented Hungarian-American photographer. Her amazing photos have been shown in many famous magazines and newspapers in New York City. She was also a very important photographer for The Village Voice newspaper.
Her first book, Sylvia Plachy's Unguided Tour, won a special award called the Infinity Award in 1991. Another one of her books, Self Portrait with Cows Going Home (published in 2005), also won a Golden Light Award in 2004. Sylvia Plachy has received other important honors too, like a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1977 and a Lucie Award in 2004.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Growing Up and Moving to America
Sylvia Plachy was born in Budapest, Hungary. Her mother was Hungarian and of Czech Jewish background. She had to hide during World War II to stay safe from danger. Sylvia's father was a Hungarian Roman Catholic, and she was raised in his faith. Sadly, she lost many relatives during the Holocaust.
In 1958, Sylvia's family moved to New York City. This was two years after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. They had to cross into Austria hidden in a horse-drawn cart to find safety.
Starting Photography
Sylvia began taking photos in 1964. She focused on capturing the look of the city and all the different people who lived there. She studied photography at the Pratt Institute in New York City. She earned her degree there in 1965. At Pratt, she met another photographer named André Kertész. They became lifelong friends.
Career
Where Her Photos Appeared
Sylvia Plachy's photo stories and portraits have been published in many well-known magazines. These include The New York Times Magazine, The Village Voice, The New Yorker, and Granta. Her work has also been shown in art galleries and museums. These exhibitions have taken place in cities like Berlin, Budapest, Chicago, New York City, and Paris. She started working at The Village Voice in 1974.
Her Books
Sylvia Plachy's first book was Sylvia Plachy's Unguided Tour. Her book Self Portrait with Cows Going Home (2005) tells a personal story of Central Europe through her photographs and writing. She has also published other books, such as Signs & Relics (2000) and Out of the Corner of My Eye (2008). Another book is Goings On About Town: Photographs for The New Yorker (2007). Sylvia Plachy has also taught and given many talks about photography.
Personal Life
Sylvia Plachy lives in New York City with her husband, Elliot Brody. She is also the mother of the famous actor Adrien Brody, who has won two Academy Awards.
Awards
- 1977: Guggenheim Fellowship
- 1991: Publication award, Infinity Awards from the International Center of Photography, New York, for Sylvia Plachy's Unguided Tour
- 2004: Lucie Award
- 2005: Golden Light Award for best book, for Self Portrait with Cows Going Home
- 2010: Dr. Erich Salomon Award
Collections
Sylvia Plachy's photographs are kept in the permanent collections of several important museums:
- Museum of Modern Art, New York City
- Minneapolis Institute of Arts
- Houston Museum of Fine Arts
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
See also
In Spanish: Sylvia Plachy para niños
