Sam Penn and Max Battle have released a new photography and writing volume titled "Max," published alongside an exhibition at New York Life Gallery. The book features intimate and explicit photographs by Penn of her collaborator and partner Max Battle, interwoven with his written reflections, documenting their attempt to balance a private sex life with artistic practice. The exhibition includes 19 of Penn's works from the book printed at large scale, with the first image confronting viewers directly.
The project matters because it explores the power dynamics between photographer and subject, offering a collaborative model where both parties contribute creatively—Penn through images and Battle through text—to shift traditional roles. By presenting explicit content in a gallery context and a published book, the work challenges conventions around privacy, voyeurism, and artistic collaboration, while also expanding the boundaries of contemporary photography and self-portraiture.