About Imogen Cunningham

Imogen Cunningham occupies a singular position in the history of American art of the twentieth century. For over half the history of photography, she explored- with innovation and a new perspective- all the major traditions associated with the medium as fine art.

Cunningham has been most widely acclaimed for the photographs made during the 1920s and 1930s, particularly close-up images of plants and nudes. She also made portraits which are now considered classics in photography, including images of Alfred Stieglitz, Spencer Tracy, and Martha Graham.

She was a founding member of the West Coast-based Group f.64, which championed an un-manipulated, direct approach with the camera, or “straight” photography. Her photographs are represented in major collections and museums around the world. Here are some links for more information:

WRITINGS ON IMOGEN CUNNINGHAM

• Written work - Articles and Papers on Imogen Cunningham
• Catalogs on Imogen Cunningham's work

LONGER INTERVIEWS ON IMOGEN CUNNINGHAM

• Oral History from the University of California, Berkeley 
• Archives of American Art Interview, 1975

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF IMOGEN CUNNINGHAM

• Biography
• Chronology

BOOKS, MONOGRAPHS & FILMS

When available to us, we offer some of these books and DVDs for sale on our BOOKSHOP page. 

• A selection of books and monographs
• Films on Imogen Cunningham

EXHIBITIONS OF IMOGEN CUNNINGHAM'S WORK

• Solo Exhibitions
• Group Exhibitions

CAMERAS & DARKROOMS

• Article on Imogen's cameras she used and the darkrooms she worked in

MUSEUMS

• Museum Holdings

ADDITIONAL AVAILABLE RESEARCH

• PDF of Imogen's papers are held at the Smithsonian Archives of American Art. This is a PDF of the finding aid/index for her papers.