NEW YORK, NY.- The American Federation of Arts (AFA), the national leader in traveling exhibitions, announces the launch of “Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder,” at Southampton Arts Center (July 25 through September 27). “This collection brings together some of the most influential voices in 20th century photography, offering a powerful reflection on how we see and understand one another. As the exhibition travels to museums across the country, it affirms the AFA’s belief that art should be accessible to communities everywhere,” says Pauline Forlenza, the AFA’s Director and CEO. “I hope that visitors are moved by the emotional presence and lasting power of these images, just as I was,” says Judy Glickman Lauder. “Photography connects us to history while reminding us that we are a part of its ongoing story. It has the power to tell authentic, compassionate stories about what it means to be human. Working with the American Federation of Arts has been a true collaboration, rooted in a shared belief of access, connection, and dialogue,” adds Glickman Lauder.


Self-Portrait in Kimono with Brian, New York, by Nan Goldin (1983). Cibachrome print. Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Promised Gift from the Judy Glickman Lauder Collection. © Nan Goldin.

The exhibition is curated by Anjuli Lebowitz, PhD, the Judy Glickman Lauder Curator of Photography at Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Spanning from Pictorialism and social documentary to Surrealism and street photography, around 100 photographs by about 70 artists form a dialogue across time and place through the singular collection of Judy Glickman Lauder, photographer, collector, humanitarian, advocate, philanthropist, and community builder. Some of the photographers featured in this exhibition include Merry Alpern, Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, Imogen Cunningham, Dorothea Lange, Danny Lyon, Susan Meiselas, Gordon Parks, Edward Steichen, Joyce Tenneson, James Van Der Zee and many others. All works in the exhibition are promised gifts to the Portland Museum of Art, Maine.


Selma to Montgomery March, Alabama, by James Karales (1965). Gelatin silver print. Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Promised Gift from the Judy Glickman Lauder Collection. © Estate of James Karales. Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York.

From the anonymous to the celebrity, and from the everyday to era-defining events such as the Great Depression, the Holocaust, and the Civil Rights Movement, the exhibition captures the full spectrum of the human experience. After the launch of the AFA’s national tour at Southampton Arts Center, the museum show will travel to the Sarasota Art Museum (October 18, 2026 – April 4, 2027); The Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston (May 28 – August 29, 2027); and the Lowe Art Museum at University of Miami (September 30, 2027 – February 26, 2028).


Suzie, Bahama Beach Club, Portland, Maine, by Melonie Bennett (1996). Gelatin silver print. Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Promised Gift from the Judy Glickman Lauder Collection.

“Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder” is co-organized by the Portland Museum of Art, Maine, and the American Federation of Arts. This exhibition is generously supported by an anonymous donor with additional support by Ellen and Robert Grimes. AFA exhibitions are made possible by the generosity of Monique Schoen Warshaw. The exhibition creates a poignant dialogue among a vast selection of photographs and offers an extraordinary journey through the lenses of some of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. The exhibition offers a riveting exploration of photography’s engagement with the human spirit and features works by beloved and revered photographers.


Mujer Angel (Angel Woman), Sonora Desert, by Graciela Iturbide (1980). Gelatin silver print. Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Promised Gift from the Judy Glickman Lauder Collection. Courtesy of the artist.

Photographs are, as the theorist Roland Barthes wrote, “certificates of presence,” verification that a moment, a person, or a place existed. From the adoration of a loved one or the wonder felt before nature to the hardship of labor or the devastation of war, photographs can be imprinted with the totality of human experiences. The exhibition embraces that totality, examining the deeply humanistic history of photography.


Lotte Lenya, Actress, Berlin, by Lotte Jacobi (1929). Gelatin silver print. Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Promised Gift from the Judy Glickman Lauder Collection.

The concept of Presence is expressed through the tenderness of portraits, the awe within landscapes, the clarity of reportage, and the spontaneity of cityscapes. These photographs emote, connecting us to the lives of others in unfamiliar places or circumstances. The exhibition also includes photographs by critical contributors to the medium’s history, such as Irving Bennett Ellis, Nan Goldin, Graciela Iturbide, Lotte Jacobi, Alma Lavenson, and Glickman Lauder, the collector herself. The exhibition creates conversations across time and space that are only possible through Glickman Lauder’s singular collection.

ABOUT JUDY GLICKMAN LAUDER

Judy Glickman Lauder (b. 1938) is internationally recognized as an acclaimed photographer, philanthropist, and author known for her impactful contributions to the fields of photography and history. Her life’s work, whether through her art, her generosity, or her collecting, is defined by a deep appreciation for life and all its intricacies. This fascination with humanity, and the nuances and complexities therein, encompasses all her creative and spiritual endeavors, and has led her across the world in the pursuit of connecting people to one another. Glickman Lauder has made indelible contributions to the field of photography.

Glickman Lauder’s earlier years involved her posing for her father, Irving Bennett Ellis, who captured her growth from infancy to adulthood, resulting in the iconic “Turn Around” television commercial for Kodak during the 1960s. The experience sparked her own lifelong love of the medium. In the 1970s, Glickman Lauder acquired her first professional camera and took a special interest in photographing cityscapes and traveling to Europe to document sites related to the Holocaust — images that are today held by institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. With a deep passion for creating powerful stories through the lens of her camera, Lauder’s work often explores themes related to human rights, social justice, and the human condition.

In addition to her photographic career, Judy Glickman Lauder has been an active advocate for various philanthropic causes, aiming to make a positive impact on society. Her commitment to raising awareness and inspiring change aligns seamlessly with her artistic endeavors, creating a synergy between her creative practice and dedication to making the world a better place.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF ARTS

The American Federation of Arts (AFA) is the leader in traveling exhibitions in the U.S. and worldwide. One of the first to successfully tour art exhibitions on a national and international level, the organization unites American art institutions, collectors, artists, and museums. For more than a century, the AFA has toured over 3,500 exhibitions that have been viewed by millions of people in museums in every U.S. state, and in Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. A nonprofit organization founded in 1909, AFA is dedicated to enriching the public’s experience and understanding of the visual arts through organizing and touring art exhibitions for presentation in museums around the world, publishing exhibition catalogues featuring important scholarly research, and developing educational programs.

ABOUT THE PORTLAND MUSEUM OF ART

The Portland Museum of Art, located blocks from the working waterfront in Maine's largest city, seeks to tell multifaceted stories through art. From free school tours, family activities, curator talks, and tours of the Winslow Homer Studio — it's all happening at the PMA.