“I’ve been photographing people in their homes since I began. It’s a way to understand who a person is.”
The daily struggles and victories shared by many in their lives at home have long been explored in cultural representations across the spectrum, from art to literature to film.
And given the human tendency toward curiosity and a need to feel like part of a community, it’s no wonder: what people do behind closed doors will always remain a subject of endless fascination. Yet a critical finding from the IKEA Life at Home Report 2022 has revealed that up to 48% of people do not feel that the reality of their life at home is authentically represented by what they see in the media.
That imbalance is the launchpad for an exciting new partnership announced by Ingka Group: a collaboration with renowned American photographer Annie Leibovitz, who will step into the role of IKEA Artist in Residence in 2023. Leibovitz is celebrated for her ability to capture the inner life of her subjects, whom she engages in intimate spaces or moments. The power of her work lies in its capacity to reveal truths that feel candid, exploring profound aspects of the universal human experience. It makes her the ideal Artist in Residence for the Life at Home Report.
“The home has always been important in my work,” Annie Leibovitz explains. “I’ve been photographing people in their homes since I began. It’s a way to understand who a person is. The advice I give to young photographers is to photograph their families. It’s one of the best ways to start. I’m excited to partner with IKEA in 2023.”
As always, the IKEA Life at Home Report embodies the IKEA commitment to continually evolve, adapting to the ever-shifting reality of the way people live today. During Leibovitz’s tenure as IKEA Artist in Residence, she will travel around the world, photographing people in their homes in seven different countries: Japan, the United States, Germany, Italy, India, Sweden, and England. She will create a series of 25 portraits that illuminate the nuances of ‘life at home’, creating a powerful photographic document inspired by the Life at Home Report.
To learn more about the project as it evolves, stay tuned to IKEA social channels. To learn more about our research, explore the findings from the Life at Home Report 2022 here.
