British street and documentary photographer Martin Parr dies aged 73

Martin Parr, the British documentary photographer known for his sharp eye, saturated colour and wry take on everyday life, died on 6 December at his home in Bristol. He was 73.

Born in Surrey, Parr discovered photography as a teenager and went on to study at Manchester Polytechnic.

His breakthrough came with the 1986 series The Last Resort, a vivid and often confronting portrait of seaside holiday-makers that helped reshape modern documentary photography.

Parr was regularly exhibited in Australian galleries, including at Bondi Pavillion in 2015, and his bright, satirical take on beach culture resonated strongly with Australian sensibilities. 

At the same time, he also photographed in Australia several times, producing work that explored everything from our own beach rituals to the peculiarities of tourism and national identity.

His work was also a strong influence on many Australian street and documentary photographers. 

Parr joined Magnum Photos in 1994 and later served as the agency’s president.

In 2014 he founded the Martin Parr Foundation in Bristol to support and preserve British and Irish photography.

Parr is survived by his wife Susie, their daughter Ellen, his sister Vivien and his grandson George.

You can read our 2021 interview with Parr here.