Matthew Ludak
Deer Crossing / Mingo Junction, 2024
Archival pigment print
18" x 27" (image size)

Artist Statement

This photograph, taken in Mingo Junction, Ohio-familiar to some as the location for the opening shot of the 1978 film The Deer Hunter-is part of a larger body of work titled Nothing Gold Can Stay. This documentary photography project explores how economic globalization has left its mark on former industrial cities and struggling small towns across America. Inspired in part by my own family's history of living and working in a small coal mining town in Western Pennsylvania, the project delves into the intricate tapestry of economic desperation, resilience, beauty, and transformation that defines these often-overlooked corners of American society.

Artist Bio

Matthew Ludak is a documentary photographer whose work delves into contemporary social issues, including classism, de-industrialization, environmentalism, and structural racism in the United States. With a BA from Drew University and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ludak melds his background in American history and English literature with a passionate commitment to socially engaged photography.

His work has been exhibited and published both domestically and internationally, showcasing his talent at venues such as The Elliot Gallery in Amsterdam, Prix Maison Blanche 2024, Photo Marseille, the Head On Photo Festival in Sydney, Australia, and the Photography and Visual Arts Festival in Braga, Portugal.

His long-term project, "Nothing Gold Can Stay," has garnered funding from the Puffin Foundation and was selected for the 2024 Critical Mass Top 50 by Photo Lucida.

Ludak has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and currently resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he continues to explore the intersections of art and social justice through his photography.

www.matthewludak.com

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