ATLANTA, GA.- 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 presents “New Acquisitions: Photography” from June 12 to Sept. 6. In addition to debuting new works, the exhibition highlights 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 demonstrates the collection’s distinctive qualities and inherent strengths in areas including civil rights-era photography, southern photography, photojournalism, documentary photography and experimental methods. It also highlights 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” is being presented in the Lucinda W. Bunnen Galleries for Photography in the Lower Level of the High’s Wieland Pavilion.