Southampton Arts Center, Southampton, NY
July 25 – September 27, 2026
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.
The American Federation of Arts (AFA) is excited to announce the launch of Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder, a new traveling exhibition featuring approximately 100 photographs by about 50 artists drawn entirely from the collection of Judy Glickman Lauder—photographer, collector, humanitarian, advocate, philanthropist, and community builder. All works in the exhibition are promised gifts to the Portland Museum of Art, Maine.
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 practitioners 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, including Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, Imogene Cunningham, Danny Lyon, Susan Meiselas, Gordon Parks, Joyce Tenneson, James Van Der Zee, and more.
The touring exhibition will begin at the Southampton Arts Center in Southampton, NY in the summer of 2026 before traveling to the Sarasota Art Museum, FL; the Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC; and the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, Miami, FL.
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. Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder embraces that totality, examining the deeply humanistic history of photography through eight thematic sections.
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. Representing some of the last century’s most important photographic developments, from Pictorialism and social documentary photography to Surrealism and street photography, works by artists in Presence capture 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. Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder creates conversations across time and space that are only possible through Glickman Lauder’s singular collection.
“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.”
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: “I hope that visitors are moved by the emotional presence and lasting power of these images, just as I was.
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.”
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, JUDY GLICKMAN LAUDER CURATOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY, 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.
Special thank you to Judy Glickman Lauder for her contributions to the field and for allowing the American Federation of Arts to bring her incredible collection to visitors across the country.
EXHIBITION BROCHURE AND CATALOGUE
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.
EXHIBITION CREDIT
Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and Portland Museum of Art, Maine, and curated by Anjuli Lebowitz, PhD, Judy Glickman Lauder Curator of Photography, Portland Museum of Art, Maine. This exhibition is generously supported by Ellen and Robert Grimes.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF ARTS
The American Federation of Arts is the leader in traveling exhibitions internationally. A nonprofit organization founded in 1909, the 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.
Top Photo Image: Todd Webb (courtesy of: AMERICAN FEDERATION OF ARTS)