Showcasing works by Dawoud Bey and Catherine Opie, among others, the exhibition affirms the continued growth of the collection distinguished by its depth in civil rights-era and southern photography
“New Acquisitions: Photography”
June 12-Sept. 6, 2026
ATLANTA, March 2, 2026 — Since acquiring its first photograph in 1973 and creating its photography department in 1993, the High Museum of Art has continually worked to expand its collection of photographs, transforming it into one that showcases the history of the medium while mirroring the culture and time in which the works were made. Culminating those years of strategic work, and signaling the future direction for the department’s acquisitions, the High will present “New Acquisitions: Photography” from June 12 to Sept. 6. In addition to debuting new works, the exhibition will highlight the extraordinary breadth of photographs the institution owns and celebrate how crafting a collection is an art form in and of itself. Featured photographers include Dawoud Bey, Rahim Fortune, Nikita Gale, Martine Gutierrez, Richard Learoyd, Baldwin Lee, Catherine Opie, Ed Panar, Susan Worsham and more.
Over the past 10 years, the High’s photography collection has grown by more than 3,000 works thanks to generous donations and strategic acquisitions, which have deepened existing areas while deliberately filling gaps in the collection. This exhibition will demonstrate the collection’s distinctive qualities and inherent strengths in areas including civil rights-era photography, southern photography, photojournalism, documentary photography and experimental methods. It will also highlight the museum’s efforts in acquiring works to diversify the artists and perspectives represented in its holdings, including photographs made by women, artists of color and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as 19th-century and vernacular photographs.
“The High has added many important photographs to the collection in recent years and many of them have not yet been on view in our galleries,” added Gregory J. Harris, the Donald and Marilyn Keough Family curator of photography. “This exhibition gives us the opportunity present these striking pieces for the first time and to acknowledge the many donors and artists who have helped build this stellar collection. We’ve endeavored to add exceptional singular works to the collection and also to represent the breadth of certain artists’ output. This show offers insight into how the museum builds its collections and highlights some of our most dynamic new additions.”
“New Acquisitions: Photography” will be presented in the Lucinda W. Bunnen Galleries for Photography in the Lower Level of the High’s Wieland Pavilion.
Exhibition Organization and Support
“New Acquisitions: Photography” is organized by the High Museum of Art, Atlanta. This exhibition is made possible by Premier Exhibition Series Sponsor Delta Air Lines, Inc.; Major Exhibition Series Supporters Sarah and Jim Kennedy; Major Exhibition Series Sponsor Harry Norman Realtors; Benefactor Exhibition Series Supporters Robin and Hilton Howell; Ambassador Exhibition Series Supporters Mrs. Harriet H. Warren; Contributing Exhibition Series Supporters Farideh and Al Azadi, Mary and Neil Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Baxter Jones, Megan and Garrett Langley, Margot and Danny McCaul, Wade A. Rakes II and Nicholas Miller; Generous support is also provided by Alfred and Adele Davis Exhibition Endowment Fund, Anne Cox Chambers Exhibition Fund, Barbara Stewart Exhibition Fund, Dorothy Smith Hopkins Exhibition Endowment Fund, Eleanor McDonald Storza Exhibition Endowment Fund, The Fay and Barrett Howell Exhibition Fund, Forward Arts Foundation Exhibition Endowment Fund, Helen S. Lanier Endowment Fund, John H. and Wilhelmina D. Harland Exhibition Endowment Fund, Katherine Murphy Riley Special Exhibition Endowment Fund, Margaretta Taylor Exhibition Fund, RJR Nabisco Exhibition Endowment Fund.
About the High Museum of Art
Located in the heart of Atlanta, the High Museum of Art connects with audiences from across the Southeast and around the world through its distinguished collection, dynamic schedule of special exhibitions and engaging community-focused programs. Housed within facilities designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects Richard Meier and Renzo Piano, the High features a collection of more than 20,000 works of art, including an extensive anthology of 19th- and 20th-century American fine and decorative arts; major holdings of photography and folk and self-taught work, especially that of artists from the American South; burgeoning collections of modern and contemporary art, including paintings, sculpture, new media and design; a growing collection of African art, with work dating from prehistory through the present; and significant holdings of European paintings and works on paper. The High is dedicated to reflecting the diversity of its communities and offering a variety of exhibitions and educational programs that engage visitors with the world of art, the lives of artists and the creative process. For more information, visit the High’s website.
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Media Contacts:
Marci Tate Davis
Senior Manager, Public Relations
404-733-4585
marci.davis@high.org
Brittany Mizell
Senior Coordinator, Public Relations
404-733-4423
brittany.mizell@high.org