“Photography, historically, has been used to pin people of color in a particular location to a particular identity or stereotype, and the artists in this exhibition work to unpin that.”

Photography is a uniquely accessible and flexible medium today, encompassing everything from cell-phone snapshots to large-format negatives, from formal studio sets to casual selfies. Nonetheless, photographs of people of color have historically played on negative stereotypes and fixed identities. In the exhibition Photo Flux: Unshuttering LA, 35 Los Angeles–based artists—primarily artists of color—shake up the field, highlighting their personal narratives, aesthetics, and identities. Curated by jill moniz, the exhibition also includes works by young artists who participated in the Getty Unshuttered program. Getty Unshuttered is an educational photo-sharing platform that teaches photography fundamentals, builds community, and encourages high school students to use the medium as a tool for self-expression and social change. It also offers resources for teachers.

In this episode, guest curator jill moniz discusses the ideas behind the exhibition Photo Flux and looks closely at some of its key works. Getty head of education Keishia Gu then delves into the three-year-old Getty Unshuttered program. Photo Flux: Unshuttering LA is on view at the Getty Center through October 10, 2021.

For images, transcripts, and more, visit https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/art-and-ideas/new-narratives-by-la-photographers-of-all-ages or getty.edu/podcasts.

To explore the exhibition, visit https://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/photo_flux/

To learn about Unshuttered, visit https://www.unshuttered.org/

To learn about Bokeh Focus, visit https://bokehfocus.org/

To learn about Amplifier, visit https://community.amplifier.org/campaign/in-pursuit-of/