Aperture Foundation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aperture was founded in 1952 by Ansel Adams, Minor White, Barbara Morgan, Dorothea Lange, Nancy Newhall, Beaumont Newhall, Ernest Louie, Melton Ferris, and Dody Warren. Their vision was to create a forum for fine art photography, a new concept at the time. The first issue of Aperture (magazine) was published in spring 1952 in San Francisco. Aperture's efforts increased respect for photography soared and its popularity among contemporary artists.

As a not-for-profit, Aperture is dedicated to serving the public. Today, as at its inception, the foundation is committed to shining a spotlight on work that is new and challenging while providing a forum for reevaluations of the history of the medium.

Intellectual rigor and calculated risk-taking have always defined Aperture Foundation, as expressed by the mission statement:

The purpose of Aperture Foundation, a non-profit organization, is to advance photography in all its forms and to foster the exchange of ideas among audiences worldwide.

[edit] Books

Aperture is known as fine publisher of photography books, with more than 120 titles in print. Some, like the Diane Arbus: Monograph, have become perennial classics. Several of Aperture's approximately 20 new titles a year are hailed as "best photography books" by industry leaders. Any given season, at least one, and frequently two or three new books are the first ever for the artist in question. Aperture also supports the efforts of other non-profit organizations by partnering on books, exhibitions, and educational programming.

[edit] Exhibitions

Aperture is also a respected originator of photography exhibitions since the 1980s; many travel, to a total of more than 25 venues in the U.S. and abroad each year. Aperture's Chelsea gallery regularly showcases exhibitions organized by sister institutions that otherwise would not be seen in New York City.