The American Federation of Arts (AFA) announces the launch of Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder, a new traveling exhibition featuring more than 100 photographs by over 50 artists, drawn entirely from the collection of Judy Glickman Lauder — photographer, collector, humanitarian, advocate, philanthropist, and community builder. The first leg of the tour kicks off at Southampton Arts Center (July 25 ‒ Sept. 27). The exhibition creates conversations across time and space that are only possible through Glickman Lauder’s singular collection.
Spanning from Pictorialism and social documentary to Surrealism and street photography, this riveting exploration of photography’s engagement with the human spirit features works by beloved and revered practitioners, including: Merry Alpern, Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, Imogen Cunningham, Dorothea Lange, Danny Lyon, Susan Meiselas, Ruth Orkin, Gordon Parks, Edward Steichen, Joyce Tenneson, James Van Der Zee and many others. 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 is curated by Anjuli Lebowitz, PhD, Judy Glickman Lauder Curator of Photography, Portland Museum of Art, Maine. 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, Presence captures the full spectrum of the human experience. All of the works in the exhibition are promised gifts to the Portland Museum of Art, Maine.
“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 Presence travels to museums across the country, it affirms the AFA’s belief that art should be accessible to communities everywhere. We hope visitors leave with a deeper appreciation for photography’s ability to connect us across time and place,” says Pauline Forlenza, the Director and CEO of the American Federation of Arts. “Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to Judy Glickman Lauder, for her contributions to the field of photography and for allowing the AFA to bring her incredible collection to visitors across the country,” adds Forlenza.
“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. I’ve been thrilled to work with the AFA team,” adds Judy Glickman Lauder.
Presence 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 is co-organized by the Portland Museum of Art, Maine and the American Federation of Arts, and 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. After the launch of the AFA’s national tour at Southampton Arts Center (July 25 ‒ Sept. 27), the museum show will travel to the Sarasota Art Museum (Oct. 18, 2026 – April 4, 2027); the Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston (May 28 – Aug. 29, 2027); and the Lowe Art Museum at University of Miami (Sept. 30, 2027 – Feb. 26, 2028).
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 concept of Presence is expressed through the tenderness of portraits, the awe within landscapes, the clarity of reportage, and the spontaneity of cityscapes. The exhibition embraces that totality, examining the deeply humanistic history of photography through eight thematic sections. The photographs emote, connecting us to the lives of others in unfamiliar places or circumstances — capturing the full spectrum of the human experience.
Using the concept of an image’s capacity to evoke a sense of “presence” as a point of departure, this selection of works from Judy Glickman Lauder’s collection shines a spotlight on the essential threads that connect and divide us, weaving together moments of vulnerability, strength, love, grief and resilience. 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.
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. She said:
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 Dr. Anjuli Lebowitz, the Judy Glickman Lauder Curator of Photography at the Portland Museum of Art, Maine
Dr. Lebowitz earned her doctorate in the history of art, specializing in the history of photography, from Boston University, where she was a Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellow. She has received numerous fellowships, grants, and awards, including from the Getty Research Institute and the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. She holds an MA from Hunter College, City University of New York, and a BA from Williams College, both in art history.
After beginning her career in the education department at the Williams College Museum of Art, Dr. Lebowitz served in curatorial departments at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the American Federation of Arts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the National Gallery. She is a specialist in 19th-century photographic albums and visual culture, with special interests in international photographic networks, African American photographic counter-narratives, and women in the field.
Exhibition Catalogue and Printed Brochure
Presence is accompanied by a free educational brochure developed by the AFA. The exhibition is also accompanied by a catalogue, Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder (Aperture, 2022), an overview of the entire Glickman Lauder Collection.
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.
The AFA has toured more than 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, Maine
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.