Lomography Partners: Fotografiska New York, USA

Come one, come all. Lomography has partners all over the world to help serve your analogue needs. If you're in New York then it's your lucky day! We're speaking to Jenah Barry of Fotografiska New York, contemporary museum of photography, art and culture, in today's instalment of Lomography Partners.

Jenah Barry photographed by Andrew Boyle

Hi, and welcome to Lomography Magazine! Can you introduce yourself to the Lomography community?

I am the founding Director of Retail & Experience at Fotografiska New York, the contemporary museum of photography, art, and culture. As an artist, it has been a pleasure to collaboratively reimagine how a contemporary museum can be a dynamic, social space for people to gather, enjoy art – and enjoy life! I’ve strategically shaped an elevated merchandise concept and integrated it with our exhibitions, programming and sophisticated food & beverage offerings, and developed a team and retail concept that resonates with guests. My role is to ensure that the moments that you experience at Fotografiska are special, and that the things you buy (all perfect gifts for photography enthusiasts, including of course Lomography cameras!) are exceptional.

What’s your favorite part of your job at Fotografiska?

I love the scale of Fotografiska – simultaneously intimate and expansive. Its focus on photography, which is such an accessible and democratic medium, really allows us to connect with a diverse audience. It’s exciting to work at a cultural venue that appreciates merchandising as one of the frontiers of the art world. I love sourcing fun new products and exploring endless possibilities for our shop to be part of an immersive experience for photography enthusiasts!

Photos by Stephen Diamond

What’s the hardest part about it?

One of the joys of Fotografiska is that we are open early to late, seven days a week, which is key to our being a fun, social and dynamic space. There’s tremendous forward momentum and innovation within our teams, too. These things that make Fotografiska a vibrant place to work, lead to the inevitable challenges of taking time to pause and creating moments to focus, while continuing to continuously innovate, evolve and inspire.

Who or what inspires you?

Cultural spaces are in my mind living organisms – they are composed of and sustained by the people who work at them, the artists who share their creativity in them, and the guests who visit them. The communities that are part of Fotografiska are a daily source of inspiration.

Photo by Stephen Diamond

Do you have a favorite memory or moment that stands out from your work over the years?

Opening our doors in 2019! It’s been the privilege of a lifetime to be part of the incredible leadership team that opened the New York City location. It isn’t every day a new, major contemporary museum opens in NYC, seeing this organization from construction site to a vibrant cultural venue come to life has been a highlight of my career.

Are there any exciting current or upcoming exhibitions that you would like to recommend?

We’ve just opened Best In Show which is a completely charming exhibition focusing on pets in contemporary photography, celebrating the role our pets have played in culture, through the perspectives of 25 international artists. There’s a lot to unpack regarding representations of status, power, loyalty, love and compassion. But it's also simply a delightful, feel-good exhibition with really remarkable works on view. Personal favorites (although it’s hard to choose!) include works by Elliott Erwitt, Walter Chandoha, Gerrard Gethings, and Sophie Gamand, among others.

Photographs from Best In Show exhibition. Top left - Blue lady and Whippet, 2014 © Dolly Faibyshev, courtesy Fotografiska. Top centre - Double Pomeranian, 2012 © Dolly Faibyshev, courtesy Fotografiska. Top right - from the series Dogs and Girls 2011 - 2012 © Hellen Van Meene, courtesy Fotografiska. Bottom left - Mammals 1, 2020 © Lisa Strömbeck, courtesy Fotografiska. Bottom centre - Mia, 2014 © Sophie Gamand, courtesy Fotografiska. Bottom Right - Topiary © Tim Flach, courtesy Fotografiska.

What do you like most about living and working in NYC?

Creative energy, humanity, and openness to new ideas are at the heart of New York City – and for that matter, at the heart of our collective work at Fotografiska. There’s always a new chapter, something new to explore.

To keep up to date with exhibitions and news from Fotografiska check out their website and Instagram page

Want to see your favorite store featured in our magazine? Please send us an email at wholesaleinquiries@lomography.com and we will check them out!

written by alexgray on 2023-12-17 #partners #new-york #usa #lomography-partners

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