For my BFA Honor's thesis, I photographed hundreds of storage sheds across the state of New Mexico. The project culminated in a unique art show held in the back of a U-Haul truck parked downtown. Inside, I mounted all the photos of the storage sheds, creating a compact display.
This project was inspired by a few key influences. I drew from the typological style of Bernd and Hilla Becher. On a personal level, I was reflecting on my own tendencies towards overconsumption and how we store our belongings. However, the biggest inspiration came from my late grandfather, Grandpa Don. He was an avid hoarder with several storage sheds. When he passed away, I found myself sorting through his belongings during a pivotal time in my life.
When Grandpa Don passed, I was moving into my first apartment, and his stored items helped furnish my little home. It was a surreal experience, having so many options for dishes, silverware, and furniture. This project became a way for me to process my thoughts on consumerism. By capturing these storage sheds, I aimed to explore the stories behind the spaces we use to store our belongings. The U-Haul exhibition added a fun twist, allowing viewers to experience the photos in a setting that echoed the theme of storage itself.
