Exhibit Review Paper - Review of a Photography Exhibition

The Exhibit Review Paper

Since 1985 the Museum of Modern Art NY has been presenting work of new

photographers in an annual series of exhibits. Eight 2020 photographers are listed on the

MoMA website in a show called Companion Pieces: New Photography 2020.

Write a five-page review on the photographer you are assigned.

Read Terry Barrett’s Describing Photographs from his book Criticizing Photographs for in-

depth analysis on why description is integral to understanding photography.

Things to include in your paper:

• A descriptive overview of the exhibit

• Tell as much about the artist as is relevant to the show o Include research you have done on the artist. Where is the artist from?

Does the photographer’s gender, race, religion, political views come into

play in the work? Research past work, publications, interviews and reviews

(both positive and negative) if available.

• Describe the physical properties of the work (Form). Select a few images and write about them.

o Include titles and dates, subject matter, medium, style or genre, type of presentation

• Compare and contrast o With the work of other photographers o With the photographers previous work o Can comparisons be made to historical periods, to paintings, literature or

any other media?

• Use your descriptions and comparisons to interpret the work. The essay will be boring if it is nothing but a series of facts and figures. The reader should be able to

understand something about the content of the work based on your interpretation

of it.

• Your evaluation of the work will most likely be mixed with your interpretation. Don’t write phrases like, “I liked” or “I hated” any aspect of the show. (In fact avoid

using the first person in your essay.) Let your descriptions and interpretation lead

the reader to your evaluation.