Museum of Contemporary Photography celebrates 45 years
The Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago (MoCP) celebrates 45 years as the Midwest's sole contemporary museum dedicated to photography.
Under the leadership of Executive Director Natasha Egan and Chief Curator and Deputy Director Karen Irvine, the MoCP aims to redefine contemporary photography through thought-provoking and culturally-relevant works, such as "American Epidemic: Guns in the United States," which is on display until February 2022.
Current exhibitions and the MoCP's vast collection of over 16,000 objects by 1,500 artists are virtually accessible to audiences across the globe.
"Since 1976, we've had the unique opportunity to utilize photography to cultivate a deeper understanding of contemporary issues and drive conversations to evoke social change in our city and nation," said Egan.
"As the world continues to evolve, so does the MoCP. We're truly excited to continue debuting new works of renowned and emerging artists such as Dawoud Bey, Martine Gutierrez and more."
The museum's relationship with Columbia College Chicago enables the museum to be a free academic institution, providing resources for students of all ages, educators and general public.
Each year, the MoCP organizes more than 25 public programs such as artist talks, lectures, symposia and conducts over 250 private docent-led tours and print viewings.
"At the MoCP, we're truly redefining the medium that is photography by debuting immersive works that often pushes boundaries through introspection with the goal of eradicating social ills that is racism, violence and more," said Irvine.
"Our current exhibition, 'American Epidemic: Guns in the United States,' is a perfect example of how we use photography as a vessel to address the pressing issues affecting both our city and nation today."
The MoCP achieves its mission by curating profound exhibitions that feature works from a diverse array of artists - from early career to well established - who often blend media to share stories and capture cultural moments.
Committed to supporting new talent, the museum's Snider Prize awards $3,000 to emerging artists in their final year of graduate study. Alayna N. Pernell is the 2021 awardee for her series "Our Mothers' Gardens."
The museum accepts open portfolio submissions from local, national and international artists, and is especially dedicated to highlighting Midwest photographers through the Midwest Photographers Project - a revolving collection of portfolios from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.
The MoCP promotes tolerance, compassion and works that align with its anti-racist mission and commitment to dismantling white supremacy by working against systemic racism and inequality.
Over the past 10 years, of the artists the MoCP has featured, 65% are LGBTQIA+ and artists of color - which surpasses the national average of 28% of exhibitions devoted to nonwhite artists, according to a 2019 survey of U.S. museums by ARTnet.
For reservations and information about the MoCP and its current and upcoming exhibitions, visit mocp.org.