New photo exhibit explores what ‘home’ means to New Yorkers
Cinthya Santos-Briones “Aerialists,” from the series “Living in Sanctuary” September 25, 2017 Courtesy of the artist
A photo exhibition opening this month examines what it means to make a home in New York City. Museum of the City of New York’s New York Now: Home exhibit features the photography and video work of 33 artists who have captured the diverse definition of “home,” be it a physical place, feeling, or chosen community. Opening on March 10, the exhibition is the first installation of an ongoing photography series at the museum.
Gail Albert Halaban, “Valentines, East 10th Street, Greenwich Village, New York” from the series “Out My Window” 2022 Courtesy of the artist
Nolan Trowe “Fuck the MTA, Homie…, from the series “Adopted Family” January 2018 Courtesy of the Artist
“New York City is the world center of photography and has been a source of inspiration for generations of image-makers going back to the advent of the medium itself,” Sarah M. Henry, the chief curator and interim director at MCNY, said.
“As New York’s storyteller for a century, Museum of the City of New York has collected and exhibited the best of this work since its founding in 1923. We are excited to launch our centennial celebrations with New York Now, our new series of photography exhibitions that will engage themes and issues of the contemporary city.”
Laila Annmarie Stevens, “Jada and Aaliyah, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY” from the series “A House Is Not Home” 2022 Courtesy of the artist
Neil Kramer, “Quarantine in Queens, Day 8” March 2020 Courtesy of the Artist
The exhibition is organized into four separate sections. Home Crosses Borders explores the experience of finding community and making home for immigrant and refugee communities in the city. Home Is Chosen highlights “queer kinship” and the power of a chosen family. Home Is a Haven depicts images that challenge the idea of home as a place of safety and protection. Home Is The Body features photos of artists who use their bodies and portraiture to confront intergenerational trauma.
“One of the things that makes New York Now: Home’s images distinctive is, in large part, the photographers’ gaze,” Thea Quiray Tagle, co-curator of the exhibition, said.
“The image-makers featured in the exhibition are engaged with their subjects, often working collaboratively with them to share their powerful stories. The results are unique and often underexposed perspectives of making home in New York that we may not see via mainstream media or in contemporary art representations.”
Maureen R. Drennan, “Mayor Al” 2012 Courtesy of the artist
Lou van Melik “Sea of Buildings,” from the series “Lou’s Summer’ April 22, 2020, Courtesy of Chantal Heijnen Photography
Naima Green, “Pur-suit” 2019 Courtesy of the artist
The exhibition is the result of MCNY’s public call for images last spring, which led to submissions from more than 1,000 artists.
The artists featured in New York Now: Home include:
● Ariana Faye Allensworth
● Xyza Cruz Bacani
● Roy Baizan
● Laylah Amatullah Barrayn
● Sara Bennett
● Amarise Carreras
● Cinthya Santos-Briones
● Alan Chin
● Sally Davies
● Maureen Drennan
● Nona Faustine
● Naima Green
● Diana Guerra
● Gail Albert Halaban
● Chantal Heijnen & Lou van Melik
● Ramona Jingru Wang
● Anders Jones
● Jamel Shabazz
● Neil Kramer
● Dean Majd
● Alan Michelson
● Paul Moakley
● Cheryl Mukherji
● Ian Reid
● Richard Renaldi
● Irina Rozovsky
● Geralyn Shukwit
● Laila Annmarie Stevens
● The Anti-Eviction Mapping Project
● Joana Toro
● Linda Troeller
● Nolan Trowe
● Elias Williams
The museum’s photography triennial New York Now, inspired by its presentation of the same name in 2000, will occur every three years with different contemporary themes related to New York City.
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