Ian York Studio

An oil tycoon, a vision and a swamp.

In the late 1800s, these three ingredients would marinate, culminate and ultimately birth a paradise for the prosperous. Home to millionaires, billionaires and new American royalty, the town of Palm Beach quickly became a place to park one’s fortunes and enjoy the exclusivity that only an island with three bridges can afford.  It is a town defined by its extreme and obscene wealth, and only rivaled monetarily by densely populated cities of skyscrapers and ruthless ambition much further north and west.

For the denizens of this island idyll, luxury cars have replaced the gilded horse carriages of old, but the sophisticated and sanctimonious attitudes of the arrogantly affluent remain unchanged by time. To be recognized as belonging in Palm Beach means to exist as a practitioner of the correct kind of lifestyle (as deemed by the oldest residents); how one presents and conducts themselves with their money is almost as important as the money itself. The clothes, cars and characteristics of the in-crowd speak with a whisper, while the bold extravagance of those who just earned their first million shout to announce their arrival.

For those looking closely, there is a fascinating call and response to be observed between those seeking to join the exclusive party that money alone cannot buy entry to, and those guarding the club door. The two often don’t see eye to eye, so the back-and-forth over the keys to belonging in this paradise seem unlikely to subside. In the meantime, the silent war wages on. Tread carefully, and be wary of stray side-eyes.

Select images from this series are available for purchase via the Shop page! Interested in a print, but don’t see it in the store? Send an e-mail to hello@ianyorkstudio.com with details related to the image.