Ryan McGinley

Think of this as a masterclass given by one of today's most influential photographers, one of the youngest artists to have a solo show at the Whitney Museum of American Art. McGinley, who uses his friends as subjects, now puts the power in their hands along with detailed instructions on how to capture intimate selfies without the benefit of seeing themselves before the click. --Indulge The beauty of Mirror Mirror is in its layers of reflection, beginning with the most visible markers of gender, race, age, and body type, before delving beneath the surface. --Huck Online Anyone who recognizes McGinley's unvarnished depiction of freewheeling youth (The Kids Were Alright, You and I, Body Loud) will recognize the through line of this volume, even though not all photographs were by McGinley. The artist asked more than 100 of his friends to take self-portraits that he then compiled -- they were each given a camera and guided by specific instructions (they had to be naked, using mirrors and other props directed by McGinley). The result is a controlled exuberance that's of a piece with his earlier work. --New York Magazine Most recently, McGinley asked his friends and colleagues, who were each given detailed instructions and a camera, to take nude self portraits using mirrors and other props. That along with contributions by Carlo McCormick, an American culture critic and curator, these portraits became a book, Mirror Mirror. Although the images are not taken by McGinley himself, the handpicked collection embodies his signature depth and celebrates the psychical. --Flaunt