Vivian Maier: The Discovery That Changed Photography

How a Quiet Nanny’s Forgotten Negatives Redefined a Century of Street Photography

She was one of the most gifted photographers of the 20th century—and for most of her life, no one knew it.

In this opening episode of The Vanishing of Vivian Maier, host Teresa Porter traces the astonishing discovery of Vivian Maier’s work and the tangled story that followed. When more than 100,000 photographs were found in Maier’s unpaid storage units after her death, the quiet Chicago nanny instantly became a global sensation. Her images—street scenes, self-portraits, and candid glimpses of everyday life—captivated the world and redefined the boundaries of street photography.

But as her reputation grew, so did the questions. Who owns an artist’s legacy when she leaves no will, no heirs, and no instructions? What happens when the beauty that inspired millions becomes the center of a copyright dispute?

Through verified records, firsthand accounts, and exclusive interviews with the people who brought her work to light—including collector Jeff Goldstein—this episode explores the early years of the Vivian Maier story: from the flea-market discovery that changed photographic history to the first signs of the legal battles that would test art, ethics, and ownership.

Join Teresa Porter as she examines how something so beautiful became so complicated—and why, decades later, Vivian Maier’s legacy still feels like it’s disappearing into the archives.

Listen for:
– The 2010 “viral” moment that introduced Maier to the world
– How two collectors helped ignite her posthumous career
– Why the absence of a will created years of legal uncertainty
– The personal cost of trying to protect an artist’s story

The Vanishing of Vivian Maier is a documentary podcast about art, discovery, and what happens when beauty outlives the artist.

Show notes include: source documents, court records, and a timeline of events. The opinions expressed are those of the host and participants.