Lifeguard Towers: Miami

NYC-based photographer Tommy Kwak brings Miami Beach to life
After the destruction of Hurricane Andrew on Miami Beach in 1992, the lifeguard towers were commissioned to be redesigned in vibrant fashion to uplift the spirits of the town.
In the tradition of the Becher’s water tower series, this book of Tommy Kwak’s photographs methodically examines the 30+ iconic towers that have become symbols of South Florida’s revitalization. This award-winning series of photographs utilizes similar framing and long exposures to produce minimal sky and sea backdrops in order to highlight the traits of each tower, inviting the reader to appreciate and compare the electric color palettes and eccentric forms.

This body of work shows Tommy’s distinct approach recognizable by the composition of the pictures, sophisticated usage of the angles, and manipulation of light, shadow, and colors. Tommy’s style of photography celebrates a kind of ephemeral beauty, and at the same time transforms these entities into more graphic forms, bringing a fresh perspective on the lifeguard towers of Miami Beach.

Tommy Kwak’s work explores the transience of landscapes and natural forms through ethereal large-format color photographs. His work has been shown in New York City and Iceland, most recently in commissions for Louis Vuitton at their locations in NYC, Seattle, and Cologne, Germany. He earned a BFA in Graphic Design from California College of the Arts in 2002 and completed photography courses at International Center of Photography from 2006 to 2008. In 2010 and 2016, Tommy participated in the SÍM Residency program in Reykjavík, Iceland, as well as the international arts festival, Villa Reykjavík. Tommy grew up outside of Chicago, lived and worked in Brooklyn, NY for 13 years, and now resides in Montclair, NJ. He has been a member of Fowler Arts Collective in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and SONYA (South of Navy Yard Artists).

Karen Taylor Quinn is an editor based in Brooklyn, New York. Since 2019, she has served as the Director of Social Media at The New Yorker, leading an award-winning team of journalists. Before moving to New York, she lived for 10 years in Seattle, working in magazines and food.