This Permanent Collection installation is presented as a complement to the temporary exhibition Arnold Newman: Masterclass. Divided between two main sections, the installation presents recent acquisitions in photography and works by artists portrayed in Newman’s photographs.
The Museum continues to grow its Permanent Collection of photography. This presentation of recent acquisitions focuses on photographers active in Mexico and the United States and includes works by Newman’s contemporaries, such as Gjon Mili, Alfred Eisenstaedt, and Esther Bubley. A portrait by Leo Matiz, the Colombian photographer who worked in Mexico, depicts Frida Kahlo and resonates with Arnold Newman’s interest in depicting artists. A photograph by Flor Garduño suggests the paintings of Diego Rivera, reminding viewers of the power of symbols and gesture in the work of Newman.
Portraits of artists represent one of the major components of Newman’s oeuvre and remain some of his most highly recognized images of his subjects. Arnold Newman: In Context presents works from the Permanent Collection by artists portrayed in the adjacent exhibition Arnold Newman: Masterclass. Rarely seen works by Isamu Noguchi and Alex Katz are here presented alongside collection favorites such as Georgia O’Keeffe’s Purple Hills. Moreover, this installation showcases the ability of an encyclopedic museum to complement Newman’s portraits of Claes Oldenburg and Helen Frankenthaler, among others, with works by these same artists.
Audio Tour
An audio tour, in English and Spanish, is available for Newman in Context and Arnold Newman: Masterclass. Listen to the audio tour on the Museum’s mobile website, scan a QR code in the installation, or borrow an iPod from the front desk.
