Where They Create

Where They Create documents the private workspaces of over thirty creative professionals through the lens of photographer Paul Barbera, with writing by Alexandra Onderwater. The book takes readers inside the studios of painters, sculptors, designers, architects, and advertisers across the globe. Barbera captures each space using only natural light, focusing on the authentic details and arrangements that define these creative environments. The images reveal the tools, materials, and personal items that populate each workspace, creating an intimate portrait of the artistic process through physical space. The book's visual narrative presents a cross-section of creative professions and work methods, demonstrating how different artists and designers shape their environments to support their craft. Its design includes multiple cover variations, each featuring a different creative studio. This collection speaks to the relationship between physical space and creative output, suggesting that an artist's environment both reflects and influences their work. The photographs preserve moments of creative potential, capturing studios in their natural state between moments of active creation.

Readers appreciate the intimate glimpses into creative workspaces and studios of artists, designers, and photographers. Multiple reviewers note the high-quality photography and minimal, documentary-style approach that lets the spaces speak for themselves. Liked: - Raw, unpolished look at real working environments - Variety of spaces from different cities and creative disciplines - Print quality and photo reproduction - Short, informative text accompaniments Disliked: - Some found the spaces too messy/cluttered - Limited coverage of certain creative fields - Price point considered high by some readers - Text could be more detailed about the creators' work processes Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (32 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (11 reviews) From a reader on Amazon: "It's refreshing to see creative spaces in their natural state rather than styled and sanitized. The photographers, illustrators and designers featured create in wonderfully chaotic environments that feel lived-in and authentic."

Inside Artists' Studios by Joe Fig A collection of scaled miniature models and photographs of contemporary artists' workspaces paired with interviews about their creative processes and routines.

The Artist's Studio by Alexander Liberman This documentation of visits to 40 artists' studios in Europe and America reveals the environments where masters like Matisse, Picasso, and Braque created their works.

Studio Life: Rituals, Collections, Tools, and Observations on the Artistic Process by Sarah Trigg A photographic survey of 100 artists' studios explores the objects, customs, and practices that form their creative environments.

Artists Living with Art by Stacey Goergen, Amanda Benchley A look into the homes of contemporary artists showcases their personal art collections and living spaces through photographs and interviews.

The Way We Work by Marieke van der Heijden and Maarten Klont A photographic journey through creative workspaces across multiple disciplines reveals the connection between environment and creative output.

🎨 Paul Barbera developed his signature natural light photography style while traveling through Asia in his early career 📸 The project began as a blog called "Where They Create" before evolving into the published book series 🏢 The documented spaces span 13 different countries, including hidden creative hubs in Tokyo, New York, and Amsterdam ✨ Several of the featured artists chose to have their spaces photographed at dawn, when natural light creates unique shadows and textures 🎯 The book spawned a second volume titled "Where They Create Japan," focusing exclusively on Japanese creative spaces and their distinct aesthetic philosophies