Foreword by Linda Fargo
Inspired by the deeper meaning attached to treasured possessions, jewelry designer and portrait photographer Monica Rich Kosann set out to chronicle the stories of such cherished belongings. Her time with more than sixty-five intriguing personalities, celebrities, and thought leaders resulted in Possession Obsession: What We Cherish and Why, a stunning photographic collection that transcends materialism and explores the secrets and stories behind beloved personal items.
As a deeply creative spirit, Kosann attributes her interests in both design and photography to an underlying fascination with storytelling. This curiosity is apparent through both the questions Kosann poses and the intimacy of the images. A sweeping range of luminaries and icons, such as Chelsea Clinton, Usher, Judge Judy, and Isaac Mizrahi, pose with prized objects and shed light on the stories behind their public personas. The wide range of items held in esteem are equally fascinating—from rings passed down generations of women, to a life-size effigy of Prince. Ultimately, the diversity of striking images and telling interviews produce a novel approach to the concept of human identity.
Monica Rich Kosann is a fine art photographer and founder of an eponymous company that produces jewelry, image cases, frames, and evening bags. Her work has been reviewed in The New York Times, Town&Country, W Jewelry, Departures, Newsweek, InStyle, People, Elle, and LA Confidential. She has appeared on CNBC, Martha Stewart, E! News, and Entertainment Tonight. Her jewelry collection is sold in over 100 fine jewelry stores throughout the United States and internationally. Kosann also has her own in-store, Monica Rich Kosann boutique at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. She is a member of the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) and is the author of The Fine Art of Family (MRK Fine Arts 2004), and Living with What You Love (Potter Style 2010). Kosann lives in New York City.
Linda Fargo is regarded as “the eyes of Bergdorf Goodman”—responsible for spotting fashion trends and shaping the visual identity of the storied and opulent New York department store. Renowned for her discerning taste and creative directorship of the Bergdorf shop windows, Fargo has held her role at Bergdorf since 2006. She resides in New York City.
ISBN: 978-1-943876-32-7
224 pages; 9 x 11 1/2"; hardcover;
200 4/c and b&w photographs
