Between the 1890s and the 1940s, dozens of Black-owned and operated photography studios in Chicago prolifically generated commercial images, portraits, and photographic journalism. This exhibition features twelve of these studios, highlighting the relationship between photographers and their patrons as well as the subsequent circulation and impact of these images in the Black media. Seen together, these extraordinary photographs represent the complex connections between identity, entrepreneurship, and the Great Migration in a dynamic period of Chicago’s Black history.
Curator
Amy Mooney, Professor of Art History at the School of Visual Arts, Columbia College Chicago
More About the Space
The Trienens galleries include an introductory gallery and a larger primary gallery. Exhibitions mounted there typically include 40-70 items from the Newberry's vast collections. Exhibitions in the Trienens galleries allow visitors to explore compelling themes and historical content in depth. Examples of past exhibitions include: Pop-Up Books through the Ages and Viva La Libertad. Click here to view a photo of the galleries.
