Howard Greenberg Gallery presents an exhibition featuring work from the photographers of the New York School (1936-1963) for the ADAA 2020 Art Show. In many ways this group of photographers, as contextualized by Jane Livingston’s ground-breaking 1992 publication of the same name, made significant contributions to photography as an art form and shaped the trajectory of Howard Greenberg Gallery.
The New York School is characterized by a set of shared subjects, influences, and stylistic sensibilities that grew out of the circumstances in New York City during the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. The influx of prominent European artists from the two World Wars, the development of photography in magazine and book culture, film noir, the socialist movement and a preference for 35mm cameras were factors in a shift towards a new approach to photography.
Photography and photo history before the 1930’s were defined in a linear manner with rigid categories, but by 1936 photography had expanded into a more much more multidisciplinary practice. The editorial influence on photography by Alexey Brodovitch and his Design Laboratory, combined with the vast cultural melting pot of New York City forged a refinement of radical visual ideas. Photographers began developing an editorial focus and a creative rigor that made their images visually striking but humanistic. With their brand of tough-minded romanticism, they captured the increasingly interesting intersections of culture, commerce and people that were unique to New York City during their time.
We plan to include a selection of work that highlight Livingston’s argument that this group of individuals display “the sustained aesthetic quality, authority and invention in their work that define artistic innovators.” Photographers exhibited will include Alexey Brodovitch, Sid Grossman, Lisette Model, Helen Levitt, Saul Leiter, Louis Faurer, William Klein, Weegee, Ted Croner, Leon Levinstein, Bruce Davidson, Don Donaghy, Diane Arbus among others.
Jane Livingston’s publication and important recognition of this group of photographers in 1992 wove this thread into Photography’s increasingly rich tapestry and complex history. At the 2020 ADAA Art Show Howard Greenberg Gallery will provide another opportunity to re-examine this incredible legacy of photographic history in New York.
ADAA
Park Avenue Armory
Booth B10
February 26–March 1, 2020
Park Avenue Armory
Park Avenue at 67th Street
New York City
