Ive always processed the world through a hyper-visual lens, Samoylova says.

Anastasia Samoylova,Lost Wig, 2017.

(40.6 50.8 cm).

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Anastasia Samoylova (American, born Russia, 1984),Gatorama, 2020. Inkjet print. 40 × 50 in. (101.6 × 127 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Diana Barrett and Bob Vila Gift, 2024 (2024.324).

Anastasia Samoylova,New Condominiums, Bonita Springs, 2021.

40 x 60 in.

(101.6 x 152.4).

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Anastasia Samoylova,Lost Wig, 2017. Inkjet print. 16 × 20 in. (40.6 × 50.8 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Diana Barrett and Bob Vila Gift, 2024 (2024.322).

That idea would give way to the series now featured at The Met.

Walker Evans (American, 19031975),Shadow Self-Portrait, Anna Maria Island, 1968.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Walker Evans Archive, 1994 (1994.252.144.3).

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Photo: Courtesy of Anastasia Samoylova

The novelty of her project as a woman artist was another point of interest.

I love the idea of being a woman on the road, Samoylova observes.

There are very few of us.

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Anastasia Samoylova,New Condominiums, Bonita Springs, 2021. Inkjet print. 40 x 60 in. (101.6 x 152.4). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Diana Barrett and Bob Vila Gift, 2024 (2024.326).

Location photography is a completely male-dominated field.

Anastasia Samoylova,Venus Mirror, 2020.

40 x 32 in.

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Walker Evans (American, 1903–1975),Shadow Self-Portrait, Anna Maria Island, 1968. Film negative. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Walker Evans Archive, 1994 (1994.252.144.3).

(101.6 x 81.2 cm).

Abbott was in her 50s when she did that project.

I just decided I would be an advocate for myself, she says simply.

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Anastasia Samoylova,Venus Mirror, 2020. Inkjet print. 40 x 32 in. (101.6 x 81.2 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Diana Barrett and Bob Vila Gift, 2024 (2024.320).

So I decided to follow up.

She came to the booth, sat down, and looked through the book very thoroughly and diligently.

The rest is history.

I mean, were not first responders, she says.

[At times] you question your own delusion and wonder, Who really needs this?

So I hope all of this will be inspiring to others.

Honestly, it still feels surreal to me.