MoCP at 40

About the Exhibition

The Museum of Contemporary Photography turns 40 in 2016, so of course a celebratory exhibition is in order. Ours, MoCP at 40, showcases contemporary photographic art as we have always seen it: as a wonderful big tent of iconic photographers alongside talented lesser-known imagemakers absent from the canonical history books. All the works on view come from the museum’s permanent collection of more than 14,000 objects. They have been selected so that our visitors can not only explore some of the extraordinary changes photography has brought to the way humans see the world, but also to offer insight into the museum’s history—our most distinguished exhibitions, publications, programs, and commissions. Like any formal acknowledgement of one’s growing age and experience, MoCP at 40  reflects the true character of the museum and the MoCP’s mission to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the artistic, cultural, and political implications of the image in our world today. Come discover the museum’s distinct history, see thought-provoking works of art and ponder the myriad meanings they carry. After all, we only turn 40 once. This exhibition is organized by MoCP staff members with assistance from graduate and undergraduate interns currently studying at Columbia College Chicago.

This exhibition is generously supported by the Efroymson Family Fund and the David C. & Sarajean Ruttenberg Arts Foundation.

The 2015-2016 season is sponsored by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the lllinois Arts Council Agency and the Abramson Arts Foundation.