When you walk into Annie Leibovitz at Work at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, you’re surrounded by 50 years of photography. From the White House, to the Rolling Stones’ tour bus, to the homes of some of your favorite public figures, history comes alive through Annie Leibovitz’s lens. Annie Leibovitz at Work is a captivating assembly of new and rarely-seen photographs integrated with images that recount some of America’s most defining pop culture moments.
Annie Leibovitz has made some of the most recognizable portraits in American life. They are immediately identifiable and imprinted on our consciousness. Her eye and theatrical instincts and wit are legendary, but she doesn’t have just one technique or style or look. She has explored many ways to make a photograph. What is consistent is the level of intimacy. It is a quality that is evident in the early black-and-white work as well as in the more conceptual, painterly portraits of the later years.
Families, students, and photography enthusiasts alike have flocked to see the show. “I recently attended the exhibit and I just wanted to send an extended thank you,” one guest wrote. “As a photographer myself, it could not have been more moving and inspiring. To have the chance to just be in the same room with some of her most famous prints was so special to me and your museum has helped in creating a core memory for me. Again, thank you so much for making a dream come true.”
Crystal Bridges has hosted numerous events inspired by the work. In September, nearly 1,000 teens had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to kick off a semester-long photography mentorship program with Leibovitz herself. Throughout the fall, participants engaged with local photography mentors who guided their creative process. The teens’ finished portraits are showcased in the Studio at Crystal Bridges until January 28, 2024.
In December, Crystal Bridges hosted Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey. The two unveiled the rigorous, investigative work they did to expose Harvey Weinstein’s abuse, published in the pages of the New York Times and detailed in their book, She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement. The women also provided some behind-the-scenes color regarding their portrait session with Annie Leibovitz as part of her workplace series, which resulted in a photograph featured in the exhibition.
“Kudos to Crystal Bridges for sharing this important story,” said one guest who attended the evening with Kantor and Twohey.
Annie Leibovitz at Work closes on January 29, 2024. Tickets for the exhibition are $12 for adults. Members, SNAP participants, Veterans, and youth 18 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased online.
Annie Leibovitz at Work, organized by Crystal Bridges, travels next to the Wichita Art Museum in Wichita, Kansas, where it will be on view from May 12 to September 1, 2024. Other tour stops include the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, California, the Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Frist Art Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. For details, visit www.CrystalBridges.org.