Mary Contompasis was an avid collector of unique and unusual objects.  She was an archeologist for NYS, and her searching for treasures of the past, translated into her own personal life – imbuing her home with objects, each of them holding a story. 

When Mary passed away, my dear friend and fellow artist, Mary’s nephew Samson Contompasis contacted me and commissioned me to photograph Mary’s home the week that she died. He wanted to remember her home as she had left it – an amazing archive of memories and nostalgia. 

The images in this collection are an archive of Mary’s home, her life reflected in the objects she collected and held dear.  They are a means of Samson’s family to look back on their own memories in this space and their time with Mary. 

This world changes rapidly and moves across time so quickly. Samson recently let me know that they are in the process of selling Mary’s home, and how precious to him and his family these images are to have. It was an honor to be able to document this moment, as vulnerable as it was for Samson and his family, and to give them this gift to look back on with love.