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Key information 3g524b
- “Constellation” is the largest exhibition of Diane Arbus’s work ever presented in North America, featuring more than 450 photographs.
- The show is on view at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City from June 5 to August 17, 2025.
- Visitors navigate a maze-like installation inspired by the New York City subway map, with no fixed path or chronology.
- Curator Matthieu Humery designed the exhibition to encourage personal interpretation, avoiding imposed narratives or themes.
- The show includes iconic images, rare prints, and selections from Arbus’s influential “box of 10” portfolio.
An immersive and unstructured experience 2e1f3r
Curated by Matthieu Humery, “Constellation” redefines the conventional photography exhibition. Rather than guiding visitors through a chronological or thematic sequence, the show unfolds across a network of scaffolding structures modeled after the New York City subway. This spatial design transforms the massive drill hall of the Park Avenue Armory into a labyrinth of images, inviting exploration rather than instruction.
The result is an open-ended experience where each visitor builds their own visual and emotional journey. With no prescribed path or narrative, the photographs—ranging from Arbus’s most iconic portraits to rarely seen works—become points in a constellation of meaning shaped entirely by personal movement, memory, and perception.
A tribute to Arbus's vision and legacy 4a4754
“Constellation” not only showcases Arbus's iconic works but also includes a special section dedicated to her "box of 10" project. This pivotal collection, housed in a "secret room" within the exhibition, features some of her most enduring photos, such as the shot of identical twins made in Roselle, New Jersey. The "box of 10" was instrumental in elevating photography's status as a legitimate art form .
A notable highlight is the portrait of Marvin Israel, Arbus’s mentor and lover, which holds a prominent position in the exhibit. Humery placed this somber, full-body shot above all other photographs, acknowledging Israel's significant influence on Arbus's career.
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Diane Arbus: the artist revealing outsiders 2r581
Diane Arbus was a fearless and transformative figure in 20th-century photography, known for her unflinching portraits of people on the margins of society—drag performers, circus acts, nudists, and the psychologically vulnerable. With a deep empathy that challenged conventional notions of beauty and normality, Arbus used her camera not to exploit but to reveal complex human truths. Her work continues to provoke, unsettle, and resonate, capturing the vulnerability, strangeness, and raw honesty of her subjects. "Constellation" honors this legacy by immersing viewers in her vision—intimate, fragmented, and profoundly human.
FAQ o725m
What is the Diane Arbus “Constellation” exhibition about?
The exhibition is a large-scale, immersive presentation of over 450 photographs by Diane Arbus, offering an unstructured, personal experience of her work. It emphasizes viewer-led exploration over chronological or thematic organization.
Where is the exhibition being held and how long will it run?
“Constellation” is on view at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City from June 5 to August 17, 2025.
What makes this exhibition different from previous Arbus retrospectives?
Unlike traditional shows, this one is curated without a fixed path or narrative. The photographs are displayed on scaffolding structures inspired by the New York City subway map, encouraging viewers to discover their own connections.
Are there any never-before-seen works in the show?
Yes, the exhibition includes many rarely seen and unpublished prints, all made by Neil Selkirk, the only person authorized to print from Arbus's negatives after her death.
Selena Mattei 
