Photography’s Last Century: The Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee Collection
February 17 to May 21, 2023 Jepson CenterThis exhibition will celebrate the remarkable ascendancy of photography in the last century through the extraordinary collecting achievements of Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee. Their passion for art was inspired and encouraged by the collecting of Ms. Tenenbaum’s late parents, Lorlee and Arnold Tenenbaum, who were champions of Telfair Museums and cultural leaders across the Savannah community. Come see more than 80 masterpiece photographs by some of the medium’s greatest practitioners, including works by Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Ilse Bing, and Man Ray; Edward Weston, Walker Evans, Helen Levitt, and William Eggleston; Diane Arbus, Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, and Mickalene Thomas. This selection is particularly notable for its breadth and depth of works by women artists, its sustained interest in the nude, and its focus on artists’ beginnings. Through iconic images and rare, experimental works, the exhibition demonstrates the many expressive directions and ever-widening possibilities within this beautiful and accessible medium.
We are saddened by the passing of longtime Telfair Museums supporter, Thomas H. Lee. The exhibition, Photography’s Last Century, was made possible by the family’s generous support of cultural institutions and enthusiasm for the arts. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Ann, and their family.
Photography’s Last Century was organized by the collectors and Jeffrey L. Rosenheim, the Joyce Frank Menschel Curator in Charge of the Department of Photographs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY. Telfair extends thanks to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and its staff, and to the collectors, for enabling this presentation of the exhibition. Photography’s Last Century is a companion to Telfair’s exhibition Bold Expressions: The Collection of Lorlee and Arnold Tenenbaum.
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Gregory Crewdson; Untitled, 2005; chromogenic print; Edition of 6, plus 2 APs © Gregory Crewdson. Courtesy Gagosian.
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Ragnar Kjartansson and The National; A Lot of Sorrow, 2013-2014; single-channel video with sound; duration: 06:09:35 hours; performance took place at MoMA PS1, as part of Sunday Sessions, 5 May, 2013, 12 to 6pm; © Ragnar Kjartansson and The National; Courtesy of the artists, Luhring Augustine, New York and i8 Gallery, Reykjavik. Photo: Elísabet Davids.
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Walker Evans (American, 1903–1975); Photographer’s Window, Savannah, 1936; gelatin silver print; © Walker Evans Archives, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Exhibition funding is provided by Anonymous, Domenico and Eleanore De Sole, Bob Faircloth, Hancock Askew & Co., LLP, Mrs. Robert O. Levitt, Paprika Southern, Alice and Tom Tisch, Truist.
Annual Exhibition Support by Director’s Council Members: Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson, Anonymous, Mr. and Mrs. Dale C. Critz, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Dale C. Critz, Sr., Alice and Bob Jepson, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore J. Kleisner, Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Levy, Mr. and Mrs. Angus C. Littlejohn, Wilson Morris, Dave and Sylvaine Neises, Thomas V. and Susan G. Reilly, Cathy and Philip Solomons, Pamela L. and Peter S. Voss, Don and Cindy Waters, Mrs. Cynthia Willett, Ms. Susan Willetts and Mr. Alan K. Pritz, Dr. Victor L. Andrews, Malcolm and Julia Butler, Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Coker, Jr., Jan and Lawrence Dorman, Dr. and Mrs. William T. Moore, Mr. C.B. Richardson, Carl and Barbara Sassano, Jacqueline and Ken Sirlin, Marti and Austin Sullivan, Gloria and Durwood Almkuist, Mrs. Lillian Proveaux Breitbart and Mr. Kerry Breitbart, Leda Chong and Kevin Dewalt, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Gantt, Lindsay and Brent Harlander, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Haynes III, Mr. and Mrs. Doug Johnston, Kelley and Josh Keller, Linda and Tom McWhorter, Mr. and Mrs. J. Herbert Ogden, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. David E. Paddison, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Rabinowitz, Mr. David A. Rea and Ms. Noelle J. Gauthier, Mr. and Mrs. Steven J. Sayer, Ms. Swann Seiler, Mr. and Mrs. Alan Sheriff, and Randall and Valerie Stolt.
Exhibition programming support provided by Brody & Frohn Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors.
