Bryan Sansivero Documents Otherworldly, Forgotten Houses in 'America the Abandoned'

"Low birth rates, aging residents, and evolving or shuttering industries pair with a trend of younger people migrating to metro areas for jobs and more diverse cultural amenities. As of 2022, the U.S. Census bureau estimates there are more than 15 million abandoned houses around the country, which have been left for myriad reasons ranging from foreclosures to structural issues to the death of inhabitants with no one else able or willing to shoulder the responsibility of a home and its furnishings."

"Photographer Bryan Sansivero feels a strong pull to document and explore forgotten dwellings. His new book forthcoming from Artisan, America the Abandoned, explores deserted homes around the country in 200 striking images. From interiors strewn with garments, toys, knick-knacks, and decor to empty farmhouses gradually sagging into the prairie, he captures a spectral phenomenon ripe for storytelling. Sansivero's practice also revolves around portraiture, which lends itself to his approach of capturing these once-occupied houses."

Rural U.S. communities are shrinking due to low birth rates, aging populations, industry shifts, and youth migration to metro areas. The U.S. Census bureau estimated more than 15 million abandoned houses nationwide in 2022, left for reasons such as foreclosures, structural problems, and deaths with no successors to maintain properties. Photographer Bryan Sansivero documents deserted dwellings in America the Abandoned, a forthcoming book of 200 photographs showing cluttered interiors, relics, and exteriors succumbing to nature. Sansivero treats empty houses with a portraiture sensibility, revealing vernacular personalities and latent narratives through objects and architectural details. The book is slated for release on October 14, with pre-orders available on Bookshop.

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