Photo Exhibitions
VIAR UN1706 - 3 POINTS
SESSION B: July 6–August 14, 2026
INSTRUCTOR: Benjamin Salesse
Day & Time: TTh 1–3:30 PM
VISUAL ARTS
SUMMER 2026
A photography exhibition is a form of “show and tell” that combines a photographer’s creativity with the audience’s interaction (applause, excitement, boredom, learning). This course explores historic and modern photography exhibitions designed by curators, organizations, and artists. We explore the ways a photograph breathes in the “living” world as compared to the “static” world of newspapers, magazines, or photobooks. Making use of New York’s vast cultural network, we will go on field trips to public museums, commercial galleries, and independent spaces in Chelsea, Downtown, Long Island City, Bronx, etc. Students will design a mini-exhibition as their final project. Students will maintain a daily Reflection Journal to document their experiences at each location, capturing the ideas discussed and materials presented. The journal serves as a creative space for exploring the topics covered in the course and for developing concepts for the final project. The Final Project will be a collectively curated one-day exhibition on campus.
Columbia students do not need to apply, but they do need to register. All visiting students will need to apply to the School of Professional Studies and register upon acceptance.