Remember Me: Picturing African Americans in Early Photography

Remember Me: Picturing African Americans in Early Photography presents approximately 70 photographs from the National Gallery of Art’s collection, including many works being shown publicly for the first time. The exhibition explores how Black Americans used photography to shape their identities, honor their communities, assert their agency, and confront racial stereotypes.

The photographs portray African American men, women, and children before, during, and after the Civil War, examining themes of race, freedom, self-representation, entrepreneurship, and the pursuit of equality. The exhibition also features photographs by pioneering Black artists, including James Presley Ball and James Van Der Zee.

When: November 7, 2026–March 14, 2027

Venue: National Gallery of Art, West Building

Location: West Building Ground Floor, Gallery G30, 6th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565

Tickets: Free. Admission is always free, and passes are not required.

Featured artists and works: The exhibition includes work by James Presley Ball, James Van Der Zee, Glenalvin Goodridge, Daniel Freeman, Fred S. Tisdell, and other identified and unidentified photographers. Selected works include Glenalvin Goodridge’s *Portrait of a Cat*; *Portrait of Red Cross Nurses*; the tintype *Remember Me, Annie*; Daniel Freeman’s *Portrait of a Man and Woman*; *Portrait of a Soldier*; and Fred S. Tisdell’s *Portrait of a Woman*.

Organization: Organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Curators: Diane Waggoner, acting head and curator of photographs at the National Gallery of Art; Katie Cornell, assistant collections manager and exhibition assistant; and Sarah Greenough, former senior curator and head of the department of photography.

Support: Leadership support is provided by the Trellis Charitable Fund, with additional support from Nion McEvoy and Leslie Berriman.