MUNICH.- Amerikahaus Munich presents a photographic exhibition by American photographer Jeff Dunas, which focuses on what constitutes the foundation of the United States: its people.

Central to the exhibition are his works from the American Pictures series, which were created over several decades. Dunas photographs in cities, small towns, urban peripheries and also rural areas. His motifs are neither iconic nor staged, but rather raw encounters. People in everyday life, in moments of waiting, of pausing, of self-evidence. The photographs appear calm, almost restrained, and that is what gives them their lasting impact. They depict an America characterized by diversity, individual freedom, and social movement.

Dunas is not interested in spectacle, but in presence and dignity. His images showcase a country made up of many voices – of different social realities, cultural backgrounds, and ways of life. Even though many of these photos were taken decades ago, they speak directly to the present. They remind us that America is much more than its political headlines or institutional power. It is a web of stories, hopes, ruptures and new beginnings.

These pictures are also complemented by photographs from the series State of the Blues. In striking black-and-white portraits, Dunas documents central figures in musical tradition, respresenting cultural innovation, resilience, and creative renewal like no other. The blues is more than music- it is an expression of historical experience, especially the African American experience, whilst at the same time being one of the pillars of modern American culture. Dunas‘ portraits combine artistic intensity with documentary accuracy and reveal how closely society and culture are intertwined.





Together, both groups of works paint a multi-layered picture of the United States: an America of people, music, and diversity- shaped by renewal, creativity, and the constant negotiation of identity. With this exhibition, Amerikahaus Munich invites visitors to engage in open and nuanaced dialogue about American society, cultural heritage, and contemporary perspectives.

Jeff Dunas (born 1954, Los Angeles) is an internationally renowned American photographer, whose work has been exhibited in museums and galleries in the United States and Europe since the 1970s. His photographs are included in collections at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris, amoung many others. After spending formative years in France, Dunas developed his own unique visual language, combining American documentary photography with European humanist tradition. In addition to his artistic work, he has held leading positions at international photography festivals and remains committed to promoting contemporary photography.