Ruth Lauer Manenti is an American artist
Episode 438: Ruth Lauer Manenti is an American artist whose recent book I Imagined It Empty, co-published by Editorial and the Star Photobook Dummy Award.
I Imagined It Empty is a study of a house, a death, and an artist who meanders through it all. The book is profoundly affected by loss, but it is not simply about the artist’s mother’s death. Instead, it is about navigating life, time, familiarity, and the places that come to inhabit us. To say the book feels haunted is not wrong, but the light that enters the frame through the windows offers life-affirming solace.
Part staged tableau, part lyrical reflection on the common household; I Imagined It Empty was one of my favorite books of the year. In the conversation, we discussed the process of putting the book together and the artist’s experience with ace designer Ramon Pez, among other topics. It was a fascinating discussion. Please Tune In.
