Remember Me

Discover remarkable early photographs of and by Black Americans that tell powerful stories of identity, resilience, and self-representation in this upcoming exhibition at the National Gallery of Art. Titled *Remember Me: Picturing African Americans in Early Photography*, the show brings together approximately 70 works from the museum’s collection—many on view for the first time—revealing how Black Americans embraced photography during the 19th and early 20th centuries to define themselves, celebrate their communities, and challenge pervasive stereotypes. The pictures illuminate the complexities of race, freedom, and agency before, during, and after the Civil War, while striking photographs by pioneering Black artists such as James Presley Ball and James Van Der Zee highlight Black entrepreneurship and the pursuit of equality. Featured works include a tintype with applied color inscribed “Remember Me, Annie” (c. 1860), an ambrotype of a cat by Glenalvin Goodridge, a portrait of Red Cross nurses from 1918, and a cabinet card portrait by Fred S. Tisdell, among others drawn largely from the Ross J. Kelbaugh Collection.

When: November 7, 2026 through March 14, 2027

Location: West Building, Ground Floor, Gallery G30, National Gallery of Art, 6th and Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565

Tickets: Admission is always free and no passes are required

Exhibition highlights: Approximately 70 photographs from the 19th and early 20th centuries, including ambrotypes, tintypes with applied color, gelatin silver prints, and cabinet cards. The exhibition traces how Black Americans used photography for self-representation and community celebration, and features works by early African American photographers such as James Presley Ball, James Van Der Zee, Glenalvin Goodridge, and Daniel Freeman. Many of the pieces are from the recently acquired Ross J. Kelbaugh Collection and are being displayed for the first time.

Curated by: Diane Waggoner, curator of photographs, with Sarah Greenough, former senior curator and head of photographs, both of the National Gallery of Art

Sponsors: Leadership support provided by the Trellis Charitable Fund; additional support from Nion McEvoy and Leslie Berriman

Note: A companion article titled “Rare Early Photographs of African American Life” is available on the museum’s website, offering further insight into the collection’s themes of Black entrepreneurship and self-expression