In the early 1960s she moved from using a 35mm camera to a medium format Rolleiflex camera with a flashgun. This was a major influence on the development of her style and vision, which was characterised by a directness and fascination with people on the outskirts of society. This resulted in startling portraits of people (often very close up) considered in 1960s America, (for example, giants, dwarves and transvestites) to be freaks or outcasts. Much of her photography was captured on the streets or in the parks of New York.

She received the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship in 1963 and 1966. In 1967 she famously exhibited in the New Documents exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art, New York- one of only three photographers to do so. She was the first American photographer to be included in the Venice Biennale (her work appeared posthumously, in 1972). Diane Arbus died in New York in 1971.

A major retrospective of her work was held at the Museum of Modern Art; from 1972 — 1975 that subsequently toured the United States and Canada. A full-scale retrospective entitled Revelations travelled to museums in Europe and the United States, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (2005—2006). Arbus's work appeared in Anthony d'Offay's Artist Rooms collection in 2009, presented by the National Museum Cardiff. Recently, a retrospective entitled Diane Arbus toured Europe 2011-2013, appearing at the Jeu de Paume, Paris; the Fotomuseum, Winterthur; Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin; and Foam, Amsterdam. Public collections of her work are held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Tate Modern, London; and Centre Pompidou, Paris.

Arbus's work has featured in major publications, such as: Diane Arbus (Aperture, 1972); Magazine Work (1984); Untitled (Aperture, 1995); Diane Arbus Revelations (Jonathan Cape, Random House, 2003); and Diane Arbus: A Chronology (Aperture, 2011).

Ocula | 2017