“Photography Exhibition by Michelle V. Agins Now on Display at Rutgers’ Zimmerli Art Museum”
**Michelle V. Agins: Trailblazing Photography Chronicling Race, Culture, and Humanity**
The art of photojournalism has long played a crucial role in documenting significant moments in history. Among the ranks of trailblazing American photographers, Michelle V. Agins stands as an extraordinary figure whose career captures the complexities of race relations, culture, sports, and socio-political issues in the United States. Agins is the second Black woman ever hired as a staff photographer at *The New York Times*—one of the most prestigious newspapers in the world—and her work is now the subject of an eye-opening exhibition, *Michelle V. Agins: Storyteller*, at the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
This exhibition, Agins’s first solo showcase, offers a compelling glimpse into her five-decade career through a collection of 68 of her most powerful and evocative images. Open to the public through December 8, 2023, *Michelle V. Agins: Storyteller* reflects her unique visual approach to chronicling some of the most important events and figures in American life, as well as the quieter, yet no less significant moments of ordinary people’s lives. The exhibition, curated by Maura Foley, picture editor at *The New York Times*, and Maura Reilly, director of the Zimmerli Art Museum, cements Agins’ legacy as a master visual storyteller whose work transcends mere documentation.
### The Power of Visual Storytelling
“Storytelling is the only way I’ve done my work,” Agins remarked in discussing her career. “My words are my images.” This statement sums up her approach to photojournalism—one that melds the immediacy of news reporting with the depth and empathy found in timeless photography. Every frame that Agins captures conveys a poignant narrative about humanity, often addressing issues of inequity, race, and perseverance.
Throughout her career, Agins has blended artistry with activism, using her camera as a tool to highlight injustice and celebrate triumph. She has covered critical news moments such as the protests surrounding the racially motivated murder of Black teenager Yusef Hawkins in Brooklyn, offering an unflinching look at the impact of racial violence, and the 1992 Democratic National Convention, where the political future of the nation was debated. More recently, her vibrant and insightful portraits of Kamala Harris during the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign show the same commitment to capturing history as it unfolds.
### Documenting Giants of Culture and Society
A hallmark of Agins’s work is her ability to humanize iconic figures across different spheres. From pioneers in the fight for civil rights to legends of culture and music, her camera has captured the likes of novelist and activist James Baldwin, musical genius Prince, “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin, and tennis champion Serena Williams. Each photo is a powerful tribute to these individuals, highlighting not only their stature but also their humanity.
In addition to celebrity portraits, Agins has helped to tell the stories of lesser-known yet equally pivotal figures. For instance, her photograph of Stormé DeLarverie—a noted LGBTQ activist and Stonewall Riots survivor—offers a rare portrait of a historical figure who played a foundational role in one of the most important social movements in America.
### A Lens on Economic Disparity and Community Life
While Agins is well known for her images of celebrities and newsmakers, her work documenting broader social issues is equally powerful. Much of her career has focused on telling the stories of underrepresented communities, emphasizing both their struggles and their resilience.
One of her signature projects, *Another America: Life on 129th Street* (1994), explores the everyday lives of residents within a Harlem neighborhood that was plagued by gun violence. This series, also on display at the Zimmerli Art Museum, paints a vivid portrait of the social and economic conditions that shape American life for many, particularly within Black communities. Agins’s empathy and respect for her subjects bring forth a multi-dimensional understanding of their lives that goes beyond statistics and headlines.
Her long-term collaboration with *The New York Times* on covering the Neediest Cases Fund—a charitable initiative that assists people facing financial hardship—adds another layer to her portfolio. Through her photographs, Agins has not just captured stories of economic disparity but also revealed the humanity behind them, allowing viewers to connect more deeply with the realities experienced by some of the most vulnerable in society.
### A Well-Earned Pulitzer Prize and Continued Legacy
In 2001, Agins was part of the *New York Times* team honored with the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for a series on how race plays a role in America’s public life. This prestigious award was yet another milestone in Agins’s illustrious career, solidifying her as one of the most important visual chroniclers of race and social justice in recent history.
Agins’s accomplishments