From the rugged Sierra Nevada mountainsin California and the impressive combination of Wonder Lake andDenali in Alaska to the picturesque White Sandsin New Mexico and, of course, the magnificence of theGrand Canyonin Arizona, a number of America’s most breathtaking landscapes can be seen in the vast collections of theOklahoma City Art Museum.
“For many decades, the Ansel AdamsThe style involved capturing the landscape in a way that implied the wilderness had a capacity for drama and transience. “You’re aiming to capture clouds, light, or snow, and the purpose of the image is to depict the landscape as magnificent, awe-inspiring, and grand,” said Rebecca Senf, chief curator from Tucson, Arizona.Center for Creative Photography.
It evolved into a standard language in photography for representing the landscape across many generations.
Until September 28, the OKC Museum of Art is featuring over 120 photographs byAmerica’s most well-known photographer in the exhibition “Discovering Ansel AdamsFeaturing seven decades of Adams’ renowned photographs, the exhibition is curated by the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona, supported by The Museum Box, and sponsored by Kirsten and David Griffin.
With the downtown OKC museum commemorating its80th anniversary in 2025, much of the attention this year is on showcasing its permanent collection. However, museumPresident and Chief Executive Officer Michael Andersonsaid the chance to present”Discovering Ansel Adams”to OKC was too good to pass up, especially given the wide popularity and significant cultural impact of Adams’ photographs.
It’s offering access to a wide variety of pieces by an artist that our audience really enjoys. We have doneAnsel Adams exhibitions, smaller ones, in the past. They’ve always been popular. However, we’ve never undertaken anything that truly conveys the story of who he was as an artist, or how he evolved into the artist he became. We’ve never had the chance to display his own prints of many of his most renowned photographs,” Anderson said to The Oklahoman.
At the point where something genuinely educational meets something that we are aware has widespread appeal.
Following the artist’s initial years as a photographer and lover of nature
“The influence of Ansel Adamsthe value of photography is immeasurable,” according to theInternational Center of Photography,and the California native (1902-1984) continues to be admired for his strikingly beautiful black-and-white depictions of Western scenery more than 40 years after hisdeath at the age of 82. (Although his signature black-and-white photographs are the focus of “Discovering Ansel Adams,” the exhibition also includes some of his color images, such as his portrayals ofMonument Valley’s cinematic crimson.)
Showcasing 124 of Adams’ images — along with 10 portraits of him created by other artists, as well as historical items like his compass and exposure meters, letters, and magazines — the exhibition “Discovering Ansel Adams” offers a glimpse into his career as a photographer, lover of nature, and environmental advocate.
It’s crucial to recognize that he was a teenager and young man in his 20s, when he was climbing in the high altitudes of theSierra Nevada mountains, that he formed a deep bond with the natural world. … That strong connection shaped the rest of his professional journey,” Senf, the exhibit’s curator, said to The Oklahoman.
During those initial years, as he encountered transformative and extraordinary experiences in the wilderness—climbing mountains and discovering the art of mountaineering… along with all the skills and emotional connections that came with it—such as the friendships formed during that period—these elements reshaped the direction of his life.
Museum guests can examine a copy of an early photo album that young Adams put together.
That’s one of the initial pictures he captured. He was 14 years old, and his parents had recently gifted him a camera. They went toYosemite. This marks the beginning of his professional journey.The Center for Artistic PhotographyHe produced a replica of his initial album, which he made during that journey. His mother handled the typography for the album,” Anderson said, flipping through the pages.
Iconic American scenes showcased in the exhibit “Discovering Ansel Adams?”
Although it highlights some of his portraits, including one of his famous images featuringfellow artist Georgia O’Keeffe, “Discovering Ansel Adams” highlights his striking portrayals of American scenery, including 1941’s”Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico,”regarded as one of the most renowned landscape photographs ever taken.
“They are beautiful, they are emotional, they are powerful, they are convincing, because there is that 19-year-old behind them who was truly going through an experience that changed their life,” Senf said.
The display specifically highlights Adams’ photographs ofour country’s national parks, which are still considered some of the most famous images of the 20th century.
“We imagine them as postcard images of these well-known locations — the Grand Canyon, the Tetons, Yellowstone, or Yosemite — but much of this was influenced by Ansel Adams due to the great success of the photographs he created, particularly in the 1940s,” she said.
Throughout the process, he was creating what we would regard as high-quality art prints… However, most people weren’t going to purchase a fine art photograph from Ansel Adams. Therefore, he was also considering, ‘How can I ensure that many people have access to these images?’ As a result, he published in magazines. He released books. He collaborated with major circulation magazines such asArizona HighwaysHe created postcards. He produced calendars. He was in charge of the covers of the menus at theAhwahnee Dining Room in Yosemite National Park.”
The OKC Museum of Art is the first location to display “Discovering Ansel Adams” in its entirety, featuring all 124 selected photographs by the renowned photographer, Anderson stated.
He was an individual deeply dedicated to environmental causes. … He was frequently scaling these locations, particularly during the beginning of his career. He often resides in Yosemite for periods of time. He spends time in various national parks. He camps and takes pictures,” Anderson remarked, noting that the public’s response to the exhibition has been “overwhelmingly favorable.
Everyone has heard his name, and they’ve seen some of his work. When they see ‘The Grand Canyon,’ or they see ‘Moonrise,’ they say, ‘Oh, that’s who.’Ansel Adamsis,” and you can instantly draw that link.
‘DISCOVERING ANSEL ADAMS’
- When: Through Sept. 28.
- WhereOklahoma City Art Museum, 415 Couch Drive.
- Information: https://www.okcmoa.com.
This piece first was published on Oklahoman:The OKC display “Discovering Ansel Adams” highlights the renowned photographer’s passion for the natural world.
