A Cheeky Peek Into The Bags (and Lives) of Complete Strangers Aged Three to Senior

Hugo, 3.5, Pre-School Student.

Josie, 7, Student.

Philadelphia-based photographer Ellie Brown dares to undo the zippers and snaps of our most private portable spaces, emptying and cataloguing personal paraphernalia in the series BAG. From school children to gallery directors, Brown examines the dueling aspects of our public and private identity. Each diptych features the subject juxtaposed with the items they carry about with them. Brown then creates an extensive list of each article, inquiring as to what they value most and what they would part with. BAG allows us to do what all our mothers told us not to—snooping into the telltale articles of each other’s lives. Whether a single horse hair or someone else’s negligee, Brown’s intimate Rolodex is as surprising as it is entertaining, proving you never know what is just beneath the surface.

BAG is available as a photo book through LuLu.

Wolf, 12, Student.

Thordur, 18, House Painter.

Almar, 22, Video/Movie Editor.

Eva, 29, Food Journalist.

Elise, 30, Songwriter.

Preston, 30, Cowboy.

Alexis, 30, Aspiring Novelist.

Dawn, 51, Retired Beautician.

Ted, 55, Rancher.

Wenke, “ageless,” Business Woman.

Rita, “old,” Retired MedTech.

Discover More