Growing up as the daughter of acclaimed American photographer Joel Meyerowitz, Ariel Meyerowitz learned to see the world through a unique lens from an early age. As a child, she would shadow her famous father with a small Olympus XA camera, carefully mimicking his photographic techniques and absorbing his artistic vision. Their bond was strengthened during intimate editing sessions at home, where Joel would review images on a slide projector while inviting his daughter to sit beside him and learn.
"He loved having a little shadow," Meyerowitz fondly recalls of those formative years. "Watching him click through the slides, I learned not just to look at the world but to really see it, to notice the relationship between people and place, the color of everything, and the humor or poignancy of it all." These early experiences with her perpetually creative, present, and loving father shaped her understanding of photography as both an art form and a way of perceiving reality.
The lessons learned in childhood continue to influence their relationship today, as captured in Ariel's best phone photograph. The image shows Joel Meyerowitz photographing his daughter, who is simultaneously photographing both him and a sculpture displayed at Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone's exhibition "The Rainbow Body." This meta-moment perfectly encapsulates their shared passion for visual art and their ongoing creative dialogue.
Despite Joel's busy schedule when visiting New York from his current home in London, he makes it a priority to dedicate at least one full day to exploring galleries and museums with his daughter, who now works as an art adviser. "He's a captivating and eloquent speaker with a deep knowledge of both photography and art history," Ariel explains. "We always have a great exchange of commentary and opinions. Often we agree, but there are definitely times when we don't."
Their visit to Rondinone's exhibition proved to be one of those harmonious moments where father and daughter found themselves in complete agreement. Both were captivated by the immersive and vibrant experience the show provided. When it came to documenting the artwork, Ariel remained mindful of her artistic principles. "When photographing art, I always strive to maintain the integrity of the work and not represent it any differently than the artist intended," she states. "The iPhone rendered Rondinone's color beautifully," demonstrating how modern technology can serve traditional artistic values when used thoughtfully.
