By Merrick Morton
Clique: West Coast Portraits from the Hood, 1980-1996, Morton's first monograph, is comprised of two-decades worth of photographs wherein he documents these communities, some of which have been largely ignored by the mainstream media, and captures their spirit.
With this collection, he strove to keep the cultural identity of these neighborhoods and their inhabitants intact, rendering their stories in poignant black-and-white and color photography. Their family heritage is unmistakable in the still yet moving moments.
Inspired by the work of Danny Lyon and Antonín Kratochvíl, Morton traveled, unhindered and unafraid, into the barrios of East Los Angeles, eventually developing his own style, unmatched by anyone of his generation shooting in this arena. His work is rooted in trying to break down the stereotypes of these proud communities and presenting them as is for the world to see.
Recently, through Instagram and Facebook, Morton has reconnected with a number of his subjects (and their families), many of whom he shot decades earlier. He has found a community curious to see itself immortalized in his work and a new audience intrigued by what's been there all along.
- Hat & Beard Press, 2024
- Hardcover, 224 pages
- 10 x 11 inches
