Virginia Festival of the Book Presents: Art Work: On the Creative Life with Sally Mann

Described as “erudite, frank, and funny” by author Amor Towles, renowned photographer Sally Mann’s new book: Art Work: On the Creative Life seeks to demystify the artistic process, celebrating the gritty reality of labor. Following her acclaimed memoir Hold Still, this book blends practical advice with self-deprecating humor and candid stories from her career in rural Appalachia. She explores the hazards of early success, the role of serendipitous luck, and the necessity of navigating rejection and censorship. Richly illustrated with journal entries, letters, and “failed” photographs, Art Work serves as both a “how-not-to” manual and a profound meditation on the messy, human struggle required to sustain a lifelong creative practice.