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Photography as Social Practice

This print viewing set introduces students to artists who use their practice to elevate awareness of social, economic, and cultural issues and to inspire positive social change.

In this photographic approach, the process of collaboration is often as important as the physical artwork and the relationships between subject, audience, and community are paramount. This selection of work encourages students to discuss perceptions of social issues and how photography can either represent or misrepresent these topics, while also navigating the artists’ formal choices.

Download an educational guide on Photography as Social Practice here.

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Abril, Laia (2)

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Marta Portrait (diptych), from the "On Abortion" series
Abril, Laia
2017
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Marta Portrait (diptych), from the "On Abortion" series
Abril, Laia
2017

Evans, Terry (2)

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Alberto Rincon
Evans, Terry
2015; printed 2016
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Alberto Rincon
Evans, Terry
2015; printed 2016

Frazier, LaToya Ruby (1)

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Fifth Street Tavern and Braddock Hospital, from the "Notion of Family" series
Frazier, LaToya Ruby
2011

Gonzalez, Andres (2)

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Littleton Museum, Littleton, Colorado
Gonzalez, Andres
2019
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Norris Hall, Virginia Tech. Blacksburg, VA
Gonzalez, Andres
2018

Hine, Lewis (1)

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Ellis Island, Italian Immigrants
Hine, Lewis
1905; printed later (Photo League print)

Lange, Dorothea (5)

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Migrant agricultural worker's family. Seven children without food. Mother aged thirty-two. Father is a native Californian. Destitute in a pea pickers camp because of the failure of the early pea crop. These people had just sold their tires in order to buy food. Most of the 2,500 people in this camp were destitute. Nipomo, California
Lange, Dorothea
1936
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Migrant agricultural worker's family. Seven hungry children. Mother aged 32, the father is a native Californian. Destitute in a pea pickers camp because of the failure of the early pea crop. These people had just sold their tent in order to buy food. Most of the 2,500 people in this camp were destitute. Nipomo, California
Lange, Dorothea
1936
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Migrant agricultural worker's family. Seven hungry children. Mother aged 32, the father is a native Californian. Destitute in a pea pickers camp because of the failure of the early pea crop. These people had just sold their tent in order to buy food. Most of the 2,500 people in this camp were destitute. Nipomo, California
Lange, Dorothea
1936
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Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California
Lange, Dorothea
1936
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Thirteen Million Unemployed Fill the Cities in the Early Thirties
Lange, Dorothea
1934

Lyon, Danny (4)

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Boss, from "Conversations with the Dead"
Lyon, Danny
1967-1969, printed c.1980
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Hoe sharpener and the line, from "Conversations with the Dead"
Lyon, Danny
1967-1969, printed c.1980
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Cell of two Chicano convicts, from "Conversations with the Dead"
Lyon, Danny
1967-1969, printed c.1980
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Untitled, from "Conversations with the Dead"
Lyon, Danny
1967-1969, printed c.1980

Ortiz, Carlos Javier (2)

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Block Party, Auburn Gresham, Chicago
Ortiz, Carlos Javier
2009
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Girls Dancing, Englewod, Chicago
Ortiz, Carlos Javier
2008

Parks, Gordon (2)

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Drinking Fountains, Mobile, Alabama
Parks, Gordon
1956; printed 2015
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Untitled, Shady Grove, Alabama
Parks, Gordon
1956; printed 2015

Schalliol, David (2)

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Isolated Building Study 24
Schalliol, David
2008
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Isolated Building Study 558
Schalliol, David
2010

Simon, Taryn (1)

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Charles Irvin Fain, from "The Innocents" project
Simon, Taryn
2002

Wolin, Jeffrey (2)

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Tina with Jay, Pigeon Hill, from the "Pigeon Hill: Then & Now" series
Wolin, Jeffrey
1988; printed 2013
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Tina with Logan, Pigeon Hill, from the "Pigeon Hill: Then & Now" series
Wolin, Jeffrey
2012