Ingka Group, the largest IKEA franchisee, has named Annie Leibovitz as the 2023 IKEA Artist in Residence, charged with traveling the world to capture the “nuances of life at home” in seven different countries.
The collaboration was inspired by Ingka Group’s 9th annual IKEA Life at Home Report, which found that almost half of people globally (48%) do not feel their home life is reflected in the media. The survey captured the responses of 37,000 people globally in 37 countries.
Leibovitz is celebrated for her ability to capture the inner life of her subjects, revealing candid truths about the universal human experience. During her tenure as the IKEA Artist in Residence, she will travel to Japan, the U.S., Germany, Italy, India, Sweden and England, photographing people in their homes to create a series of 25 portraits that illuminate the nuances of consumers’ home life around the world.
“The home has always been important in my work,” said Leibovitz in a statement. “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.”
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What Leibovitz uncovers in her travels will be used in tandem with the report findings to help IKEA continue to evolve and adapt its offerings for the “ever-shifting reality of the way people live today.”
“The Life at Home Report results are a crucial moment every year at IKEA,” said Marcus Engman, Chief Creative Officer at Ingka Group in a statement. “They help us to realize our vision to create a better everyday life for many people. That’s why we are delighted to team up with Annie Leibovitz, a true artist and trailblazer, to turn her iconic lens to those lives at home we don’t always see, and voices we don’t always hear. We look forward to working with her throughout 2023 and engaging the next generation of artists along the way.”
