American Fair

The essence of the American Fair has not changed much over the past century. As the social and cultural fabric of the United States has evolved considerably, the fairs continue to draw attendance from across wide swaths of the heartland, providing a place for far-flung citizens of a particular county or state to maintain community and celebrate elements of their culture that recall some of the most nostalgic ideals of America. Pamela Littky traveled thousands of miles across the country capturing the sights of these important seasonal markers for so many communities. Idyllic portraits of farmers and rope-and-ride spectators accompany portraits and tableaux that evoke undertones of apprehension and uncertainty; elderly faces that have seen many seasons of the fair and the youth who project determination or innocence underneath adolescent postures. The result is a breathtaking collection of photographs where wistful reflections on the past meet the challenging realities of American life in the 21st Century.

Los Angeles based photographer Pamela Littky has been producing award-winning, iconic images of high profile personalities for over ten years. Spontaneous and disarming, intimate and unpretentious, her portraits capture well-known subjects in seemingly unguarded moments. Littky’s unique relationship to her subjects and sense of humor has left an indelible imprint on her work.In between shoots of world-famous actors and musicians for top commercial and editorial clients, Littky pursues personal projects that show a decidedly less glamorous but completely compelling side of American culture. Her work has been shown in various exhibitions around the world. Her first monograph, "Vacancy", about the communities in two small towns located at opposite sides of the Mojave Desert was published to critical acclaim (Kehrer Verlag Sept. 2014). Her second monograph, the "Villa Bonita", Foreword by Cameron Crowe (Kehrer Verlag Sept 2016), was picked by Vogue Magazine as one of Spring 2016’s Best New Books.