FotoFocus Opens First Permanent Exhibition Center in Cincinnati with 'Big Tent'
In 2026, FotoFocus, a nonprofit based in Cincinnati, launched its inaugural permanent exhibition space after 25 years of hosting photography biennials and symposia. The 14,700-square-foot venue, crafted by architect José Garcia, includes a staircase inspired by a camera viewfinder and thresholds resembling Polaroid frames. The first exhibition, titled 'Big Tent,' curated by artistic director Kevin Moore, delves into American identity through photography, drawing inspiration from Amanda Gorman's poem 'In This Place (An American Lyric).' Featured artists include Gordon Parks, Robert Frank, An-My Lê, Catherine Opie, Alec Soth, and David Benjamin Sherry. Moore characterized the exhibit as a political commentary on inclusivity, especially in light of the federal government's rollback of DEI initiatives. The upper level houses a large portrait gallery, while this fall, Moore will unveil 'The Long View' during the FotoFocus Biennial, showcasing works by Trevor Paglen, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, and Nancy Rexroth. 'Big Tent' will be on display until August 22, 2026.
Key facts
- FotoFocus opened its first permanent exhibition center in Cincinnati in 2026.
- The 14,700-square-foot space was designed by architect José Garcia.
- The inaugural exhibition is 'Big Tent,' curated by Kevin Moore.
- 'Big Tent' is inspired by Amanda Gorman's poem 'In This Place (An American Lyric).'
- The show features works by Gordon Parks, Robert Frank, An-My Lê, Catherine Opie, Alec Soth, and David Benjamin Sherry.
- Moore described the exhibition as a political statement about inclusivity.
- The fall 2026 FotoFocus Biennial, 'The Long View,' will include Trevor Paglen, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, and Nancy Rexroth.
- 'Big Tent' is on view through August 22, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Kevin Moore
- José Garcia
- Amanda Gorman
- Gordon Parks
- Robert Frank
- An-My Lê
- Catherine Opie
- Alec Soth
- David Benjamin Sherry
- Trevor Paglen
- Paul Mpagi Sepuya
- Nancy Rexroth
- Sheila Pree Bright
- Maya Lin
- Accra Shepp
- Builder Levy
- Dawoud Bey
- Mitch Epstein
- Sky Hopinka
- Cauleen Smith
- Madeleine Hordinski
- Marco Anelli
- Asa Featherstone IV
- Frederick Douglass
- Gertrude Stein
- Jesse Dorris
- Jose Garcia
- Asa Featherstone
- Michael Wilson
- Tina Gutierrez
- Melvin Grier
- Robert Mapplethorpe
- Tom Schiff
- Katherine Siegwarth
- Jill Freedman
- Tina Barney
- Moyra Davey
- Xaviera Simmons
Institutions
- FotoFocus
- Rena Bransten Gallery
- Sikkema Malloy Jenkins
- FotoFocus Center
- Contemporary Arts Center (Cincinnati)
- Images Gallery
- Lightborne
- The Art Newspaper
- Surface Magazine
- Forbes
Locations
- Cincinnati
- Ohio
- United States
- Nogales
- Arizona
- San Francisco
- California
- Bangladesh
- Cameroon
- Mount Auburn
- Over-the-Rhine
- Argentina
- New York City
- Lake Michigan
- Alabama
- New Mexico
- White Sands Missile Range
- Boston
- Charlottesville
- East Texas
- Washington, DC
- Charlotte
- Michigan
- Texas
- L.A.
- Greater Cincinnati region
- New York
- Philadelphia
- St. Louis
- Buffalo
- Miami