Gordon Parks' photographs of Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X and the psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark are among the most studied images of the 20th century; this show lets the subjects' families answer back. Written reflections, many shared publicly for the first time, add memory and anecdote to pictures you thought you knew. If you love photography with history in every frame, this is the gallery show downtown worth a detour.
What to expect
Expect classic Parks prints hung alongside written reflections from relatives, including Kate Clark Harris on her parents' famous doll tests. The pairing slows you down, and the gallery's large Lafayette Street space gives the images room.
Good to know
- At 46 Lafayette Street near the 4/5/6 and J/Z at Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall/Chambers Street
- Organized with The Gordon Parks Foundation
- Reading the reflections is the point, so budget extra time
- Galleries keep shorter hours than museums and close early in the week, so check the gallery site before you go
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Common questions
What is new about this Gordon Parks show?
It pairs his photographs with reflections from the people and families he photographed, including the families of Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X.
Who helped organize it?
The Gordon Parks Foundation, which has built relationships with many of Parks' subjects.
