Picturing the South

In 1996, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta began commissioning photographers from around the globe to explore the American South’s social and physical landscape for its Picturing the South initiative. Since, the museum has commissioned 16 artists and built a collection playing host to over 300 photographs. To mark the program’s 25th anniversary last year, the High mounts a major exhibition entitled “Picturing the South: 25 Years” to join all commissions for the first time. On view is an archive of photographs that addresses themes like the legacy of slavery and racial justice, as well as the social implications of the ever-changing landscape. Works on view include the first photographs in Sally Mann’s “Motherland” series, Dawoud Bey’s portraits of local Atlanta high school students, Richard Misrach’s “Cancer Alley” industrial landscapes, and more.