Great Americans

From an inspired project - to document the lives of ordinary Americans with extraordinary names - emerges a fascinating composite portrait of our country.

Did you know Elvis Presley lives - and works as a data supervisor at a hospital in Texas? That Jackie Kennedy is a sales clerk at an outlet mall in Mississippi? Ever met Marilyn Monroe, a retired politician in Iowa; Al Capone, who works at a food distribution center in South Philly; Bob Dylan, a cashier at a Las Vegas casino; or Muhammad Ali, a University of Minnesota freshman and aspiring neuroscientist? What do they look like? Where have they been? And what does it mean to them to be American?

Great Americans chronicles KK Ottesen's odyssey across America to photograph and interview people who happen to share names with our nation's most famous and infamous icons. From every state and the District of Columbia, each person's portrait is captured in a gorgeous, black-and-white photograph, and in their own words they answer questions about their lives, their adventures under these famous monikers, and how they feel about living in this country today.

Great Americans is a moving, amusing, and beautiful testament to everyday heroes: the people who make America the great mosaic it is.