1976
Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volunteering in the Peace Corps he picked up photography and began his journey as a documentarian. While living in Livermore, California, in the late 1960s, he worked as a photographer for the local newspaper. He became increasingly interested in the suburban areas that became heavily populated after WWII.
Owens started photographing middle-class America and would eventually publish a best-selling book, Suburbia, in 1972. Suburbia is considered one of the most important photography books to date. He went on to publish three more books, Our Kind of People, Working and Leisure, focusing on the suburbanites of America.
Owens was the recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship, which he received in 1976.
Between working commercially and on personal photographic projects, he opened a brewery in California in 1983 and became so enamored with craft beer that he founded the American Distilling Institute and American Brewer magazine.
The photographs of Bill Owens are highly sought after and can be found in private and public collections such as the Getty Museum, Modern Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, and the Smithsonian Museum of American Art.
Find Bill Owens photography on 1stDibs.
We really enjoy getting together, from Suburbia
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"We really enjoy getting together with our friends to drink and dance. It's a wild party and we're having a great time." from series, Suburbia Edition of 15 Signed, dated and number...
Silver Gelatin
Sunday Afternoon, from Suburbia series
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"Sunday afternoon we get it together. I cook the steaks and my wife makes the salad." Edition of 15 Signed, numbered, and artist stamp. Series: Suburbia Bill Owens was born and rais...
Silver Gelatin
My dad thinks it's a good idea
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"My dad thinks it's a good idea to take all the leaves off the tree and take up the yard. I think he is crazy." Edition of 15 Signed, numbered, and artist stamp...
Silver Gelatin
Before the Dissolution of our Marriage, from the series, Suburbia
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Gelatin Silver Print 14 × 11 in. Ed. of 15 Signed, numbered, dated in pencil with artist stamp in black ink on verso From the series, Suburbia “Before the dissolution of our marriag...
Silver Gelatin
We're Really Happy, from Suburbia series
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
"We're really happy. Our kids are healthy, we eat good food, and we have a really nice home." Gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 in. Signed, print date, misc. notation in pencil on vers...
Silver Gelatin
We like to play war, from Suburbia
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
We like to play war, 1971 Gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 in. Edition of 15 Stamped in ink, signed, numbered, and dated in pencil on verso by Bill Owens Series: Suburbia Bill Owens wa...
Silver Gelatin
Low-Cost Vacations for American Wage Earners - Mid 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Low-Cost Vacations for American Wage Earners- Vintage Photograph is an original black and white photograph realized in the U.S in the Mid-20th Century in a series of American life in...
Photographic Paper
Old Days - Camping - Vintage Photo - 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Old Days - Camping is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1970s. Good conditions.
Photographic Paper
Vacation Time in The US - American Vintage Photograph - Mid 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Vacation time in The us- Vintage Photograph is an original black and white photograph realized in the U.S in the Mid-20th Century in a series of American lif...
Photographic Paper
Old Days - Camping - Vintage Photo - 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Old Days - Camping is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1970s. Good conditions.
Photographic Paper
Old Days - Camping - Vintage Photo - mid-20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Old Days - Camping is a vintage photograph realized in the Mid 20th Century. The photo belongs to Albumen of historical painting, photographs, meticulously captured. Good conditio...
Photographic Paper
In the Camping - Vintage Photograph - 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
In the camping is an original black and white photograph realized by the Agency of "LIALI, Roma" With the copyright and the stamp of Agency" and the hand-note on the rear. Good con...
Photographic Paper
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