In an article datelined six days ago, Morgan Malget at The New York Times makes the claim that photography is going to be big at American museums in 2025. "A Guide to U.S. Museums to See This Year" is subtitled, "Photography and portraiture are at the center of exhibitions this spring and beyond, examining their forms and themes and the people behind them."
"This spring, museums across the country are highlighting the importance of photography as an art form," the article begins, "including exhibitions that present the history of the medium, celebrate experimentalists in the field and examine deeper themes that can be communicated through a camera lens [...] Along with photography, there is a focus on portraiture that tells the personal stories behind the paintings and reflects the human condition, like an exhibition highlighting Vincent van Gogh’s Roulin Family Portraits." The selections highlight upcoming shows in New York City; Corning and Water Mill, both in New York; Los Angeles and San Francisco in California; Portland, Oregon; Baltimore, Maryland; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; Chicago, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; St. Louis, Missouri; Anchorage, Alaska; Billings, Montana; Jackson, Wyoming; Boston (that's the one with the Van Gogh portraits) and Salem, both in Massachusetts; Ridgefield, Connecticut; Atlanta, Georgia; Louisville, Kentucky; Miami, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Houson, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The list actually doesn't have that many that appear to be concerned with photography. Four that do are, "The New Art: American Photography 1839–1910," through July 20th, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City; "Wildlife Photographer of the Year," May 24th through August 24th, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, Wyoming; "Shirin Neshat, Born of Fire," through September 1st at the Parrish Art Museum, Water Mill, New York; and "Arresting Beauty: Julia Margaret Cameron," May 30th through September 14th, Morgan Library and Museum, New York City.
In my fantasies I have the leisure and the dosh to chase down museum shows of photography all over the world. But what I should do is imagine that I have a real life, and make an effort to get to some of these shows that are within driving distance of where I actually exist. Looking at imaginary prints is no good. As with editing photos, you need to do it with your eyes.
Mike
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That link is behind a paywall.
Posted by: Mel | Monday, 28 April 2025 at 09:49 AM
There are photography exhibits of specific work in museums (and elsewhere) in almost every state, routinely. Currently, for instance, even museums in Alaska, Arkansas and Delaware have photo exhibits, let alone states with major cities, which have multiple. Approaching 100 or so in museums alone currently. I know this because I’ve been subscribing to The Photograph Collector since the 70’s, and they publish schedules of exhibits (and lectures, courses, auctions, etc) on a monthly basis for every state and about 25 other countries. One needn’t collect photos to gather all sorts of great information about the current and upcoming photo scene. It’s $149 annually, well spent for me.
Posted by: Jeff | Monday, 28 April 2025 at 11:29 AM
Oops… meant quarterly publication, not monthly
Posted by: Jeff | Monday, 28 April 2025 at 11:34 AM
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is hosting a traveling exhibit of Ansel Adams photos this summer.
Posted by: James Meeks | Monday, 28 April 2025 at 12:18 PM
The article you linked to is behind the paywall. Does it have a list of shows or is it mostly the summary you provided in your second to last paragraph?
Cheers, John
[Hi John, It has a paragraph about every show it lists. The New York Times currently provides 20 free articles a month. I assume you have used up all 20 of yours for April? I'd suggest waiting till May starts and then trying the link again. --Mike]
Posted by: John Payne | Monday, 28 April 2025 at 05:21 PM
The Amon Carter in Fort Worth is hanging prints from Avedon's The American West May 18 - August 10.
Posted by: David Brown | Tuesday, 29 April 2025 at 12:59 PM
Hiya.
I’m quite lucky, living in Japan where photography is fairly well appreciated.* I’ve been able to visit many exhibitions at various galleries and museums in and around Tokyo, and I’ve been able to see many famous and important works. Such as prints of Doisneau’s Music-Loving Butchers and Lange’s Migrant Mother just the other day.
Sometimes it does not work out so well though. A few weeks ago I came away from a Robert Capa exhibition, one which presented his war photography in discrete geographic sections, quite upset. Worthwhile I guess, as I had come to realise something (relating to political events, which I’ll step around here), but upsetting nonetheless.
Other times though, you can stumble across unexpected wonders. Like an exhibition years ago of the actual marionettes and props from Gerry Anderson productions (still no idea why that was in the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography**).
Anyway, I would encourage any and all, if they can, to make the effort to see prints in person. Superbly done prints (esp. black and white and dye transfer*** for me) can literally stop you in your tracks.
Peace,
Dean
* as are all forms of art - there are museums and galleries all over the place. At least five within about 15km of me, including a bonsai museum and a comic book museum.
** now known as the Tokyo Museum of Photographic Art, aka TOP
*** I wonder if I’ve ever seen any printed by Ctein?
Posted by: Dean Johnston | Tuesday, 29 April 2025 at 05:09 PM
Here is a gift link for John and others. I think they expect the occasional social sharing, like this.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/arts/design/american-museums-art-guide.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Dk8.Zwmc.1XyhcoGk_48v&smid=url-share
Posted by: John Krumm | Tuesday, 29 April 2025 at 09:36 PM
The Center for Creative Photography, at the University of Arizona, is about to open the exhibit "Picture Party: Celebrating the Collection at 50" , in honor of the Center's 50th anniversary. Should be a great show-the exhibit will run for the rest of the year and will be well worth a visit. (The Center was founded by the UofA and Ansel Adams, and contains his archive as well as those of too many other well-known photographers to mention).
www.ccp.arizona.edu
Posted by: Mark Sampson | Wednesday, 30 April 2025 at 02:11 PM
[Hi John, It has a paragraph about every show it lists. The New York Times currently provides 20 free articles a month. I assume you have used up all 20 of yours for April? I'd suggest waiting till May starts and then trying the link again. --Mike]
Thank you Mike and John Krumm. Whenever I try to read one of their 20 “free” articles, it tells me I’ve reached my limit. They must know I’m a Wall St. Journal reader. 😉
Posted by: John Payne | Wednesday, 30 April 2025 at 06:41 PM