Carolyn Thome

"I collect and photograph many unnoticed everyday objects, bringing them to the hyper-realistic pedestal they deserve."

Carolyn Thome's 31 years working at the Smithsonian Institution deeply influenced her approach as an artist. Immersed in a culture of observation, collection, and storytelling, she developed a profound appreciation for the power of sharing what might otherwise be overlooked. Her work is an extension of that practice—an invitation to see the familiar in a new light, to find wonder in the smallest of details, and to elevate the everyday.

Thome photographs all her subjects in a studio using the focus-stacking technique to achieve crisp detail throughout the image.

She has been taking photos since the age of 10. In addition to pursuing her photography career, she is a model maker at the Smithsonian Institute.