National Gallery of Art Examines Mining Through 200 Years of Photography

From May 23 to August 23, 2026, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., will host "Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography." This groundbreaking exhibition is the first to focus solely on the interplay between American photography and resource extraction over nearly two centuries. Featuring approximately 150 photographs by 100 artists, including notable names like Richard Avedon, Dorothea Lange, Gordon Parks, Carleton E. Watkins, and Milton Rogovin, the collection spans from California Gold Rush daguerreotypes to modern large-scale images. Co-curator Diane Waggoner emphasizes the reliance of photography on precious metals and its significance in illustrating extractive industries. The exhibition will subsequently be displayed at the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.