What amateur photographer doesn’t someday wonder if his or her pictures have crossed the line from family photos to art?

Vivian Maier, known as “the nanny photographer,” had no idea the stunning photographs she took of everyday people on the streets of Chicago in the '50, '60s, '70s and '80s would one day be considered works of art.

On Thursday, Dec. 6, Maier’s work and life will be on display at Powell’s City of Books on West Burnside Street. A 6:30 p.m. reception at the Basil Hallward Gallery inside Powell’s will feature some of Maier’s photographs. At 7:30 p.m. Richard Cahan, author of “Vivian Maier, Out of the Shadows,” will talk about Maier’s work and life.

Cahan’s book grew from a recently discovered collection of more than 18,000 previously unseen Maier negatives in Chicago.