FotoFocus Opens First Permanent Building in Cincinnati with 'Big Tent' Exhibition

FotoFocus, the Cincinnati-based nonprofit championing photography and lens-based art, will open its first permanent, dedicated building—the FotoFocus Center—on May 29, 2026. The 14,700-square-foot facility, located in the Over-the-Rhine historic Mount Auburn neighborhood, is purpose-built for photographic exhibitions and year-round programming. The inaugural exhibition, 'Big Tent,' runs through August 22, 2026, and features work by over 50 artists reflecting on American democracy and photography's potential for change. The show is partly inspired by Amanda Gorman's poem 'In This Place (An American Lyric)' and takes its name from the political metaphor of a 'big tent,' also referencing FotoFocus's first biennial in 2014 held in an actual tent. A consistent thread is portraiture, culminating in a large portrait wall on the second floor inspired by Gorman's poem, and closing with Marco Anelli's portraits of newly naturalized citizens. Artistic Director Kevin Moore and Executive Director Katherine Siegwarth emphasized the exhibition's welcoming yet sobering tone, aiming to inspire conversation and unity. Admission is free. Moore noted that future programming will mix photography with other mediums, including film, fashion, and photojournalism. The building grounds FotoFocus in the community, expanding its yearly offerings beyond the biennial.