Manuel Álvarez Bravo's Unseen Works Revealed at New York Life Gallery

New York Life Gallery presents a curated selection of never-before-seen photographs by Manuel Álvarez Bravo, on view through July 24, 2026. Curated by Johann Mergenthaler, the exhibition moves away from the artist's iconic images to highlight lesser-known works that span his entire career, from the 1920s to the 1980s. Bravo, who lived from 1902 to 2002, created a visual language rooted in Mexican daily life, transforming ordinary subjects into poetic, uncanny images. The show includes works such as 'Cáscara de mandarina' (1930), 'Adorno de fiesta' (1975), and 'Exvotos' (1966), among others. Mergenthaler, working with archive director Aurelia Álvarez, aimed to reveal a 'new' Bravo, emphasizing the archive's ongoing capacity for surprise. The exhibition is not a retrospective but a personal selection that speaks across decades, confirming Bravo's status as a contemporary artist even 25 years after his death.