Exclusive photography exhibit “A Thousand Words: Photography at The New Yorker” is now on view at The Church in Sag Harbor through May 31, revealing a powerful visual history of culture, conflict, and leadership captured by some of the world’s most acclaimed photographers.
Curated by Elisabeth Biondi, former The New Yorker visuals editor, the exhibition opens a window into four decades of the magazine’s groundbreaking photography. It showcases iconic images ranging from Richard Avedon’s 1963 portrait of Malcolm X—the magazine’s first published photograph—to striking portraits of global leaders like Muammar Gaddafi, Barack Obama, and Vladimir Putin taken by renowned photographer Platon at the United Nations.
“I wanted Avedon’s Malcolm X to be the opening image because he was the gate,” Biondi said, emphasizing the exhibition’s historical depth. This is a rare chance for US audiences to see the evolution of photojournalism inside one of the nation’s most influential magazines, illuminating global events and intimate human moments alike.
Urgent Visual Stories From Global Flashpoints
The exhibition includes Gilles Peress’s dramatic photo series on the Kosovo War of 1999 and his on-the-scene 9/11 coverage, providing raw testimony of conflict and tragedy. It also features Robert Polidori’s haunting images of Havana’s decaying architecture and post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans—visually chronicling resilience and loss.
Biondi’s steep photo-editing background started in Germany’s Geo and Stern magazines before moving into the US magazine world, notably with Vanity Fair under Tina Brown. Her intimate knowledge of the publishing industry shapes the exhibit’s curation, bridging celebrity portraiture, journalistic rigor, and artistic photography.
Iconic Faces and Unexpected Moments
The show includes Mary Ellen Mark’s evocative parade and political portraits, Sylvia Plachy’s Bronx Zoo and theater scenes, and Martin Schoeller’s distinctive close-ups of celebrities like Cindy Sherman and Valentino. These selections highlight the unique power of still images to convey personality and context in seconds.
“Platon photographed world leaders for just five minutes each at the United Nations, yet captured strikingly different and revealing expressions,” Biondi explained. The exhibit features portraits of leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu, Hugo Chavez, and Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi, giving viewers a rare glimpse behind political facades.
Why Montanans and Americans Should Care Now
This collection of images holds special urgency as it confronts powerful moments in recent history—conflict, politics, and culture—that continue to shape the world today. In Montana and across the US, the exhibition offers a compelling reminder of photojournalism’s role in bearing witness and sparking dialogue.
Biondi’s work underscores how picture stories transcend words to convey emotion, context, and truth. The profound influence of these photographers not only defined The New Yorker’s visual voice but helped shape American and global perceptions for decades.
Exhibit Details and What to Watch For
“A Thousand Words” runs through May 31 at The Church in Sag Harbor, presenting a curated blend of journalistic and artistic photography from celebrated New Yorker contributors including Ruven Afanador, Steve Pyke, Max Vadukul, and others.
Visitors can explore a rare magazine rack installation featuring the original New Yorker issues where many of these breakthrough photographs debuted, deepening the historical context of each piece.
For readers and art lovers in Montana and nationwide, this exhibit is a live lesson in the visual power of photography and its impact on shaping cultural memory—available for a limited time and not to be missed.
“I was very fortunate to work for The New Yorker,” Biondi reflected, capturing a career spent at the forefront of photographic storytelling.
