Texas Textures Book, Volume One

Rusted iron, weathered brick, overgrown brush, and beer bottle-laden gravel are only a few of the textures you’ll find across the lonely towns, dilapidated structures, and rural landscapes featured in Kat Swansey’s debut hardcover photo-book. But make no mistake: There’s plenty of story hidden in the places where things look a little worse for wear. Organized geographically and accompanied by travel stories, Swansey’s 200-photo collection is a compelling visual road trip with notable pit stops including Big Bend National Park, Larry McMurtry’s Archer City bookstore, and the birthplace of Waylon Jennings.

At the heart of Swansey’s work, though, is an appreciation for destinations that are truly off the beaten path. Her photos imaginatively capture, affectionately preserve, and occasionally lament the historical and environmental hardships faced by forgotten places and empty spaces along the beloved backroads of her home state. Texas Textures depicts contemporary rural America as worthy of admiration and demanding of intrigue. It’s a perfect companion to fans of the New Topographics movement, Lone Star highway wanderers, and anyone curious how Marathon is pronounced by the locals…