Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Updated August 2023





Born October 1950 Hazard, Kentucky

Education

1986-1989 Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA
Degree: Master of Fine Arts
Major : Photography

1974-1975 University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Degree: Master of Arts
Major: Photography

1969-1974 Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH
Degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts
Major: Photography

Awards:

2010 Guggenheim Photography Fellowship, NYC, NY

1999 The Peter S. Reed Foundation, Inc.
New York City, NY
Photography Grant

1992 National Endowment for the Arts, Washington, DC
Photography Fellowship

1992-1989 Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, MA
Artist Support Grant, four consecutive years

1990 The Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation, Akron, OH
Artist Support Grant
Mother Jones International Documentary Photography Competition,
San Francisco, CA, Finalist Award

1989 Massachusetts Artist Fellowship Program, Boston, MA

1978 National Endowment for the Arts, Washington, DC
One of seven photographers selected to photograph within the state of Kentucky,
publication produced, "Appalachia: A Self-Portrait," Survey Grant




Children at Topmost, '91


Work in Selected Permanent Collections

2023 Weatherspoon Art Museum, UNC, Greensboro, NC

2022 Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA

2016 Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA

2014 - to Date Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, AZ
        [ Where archive is maintained.]
The J. Paul Getty Museum, LA, CA

2012 Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA

2011 WestLicht. Schauplatz fur Fotografie, Vienna, Austria

2010 Adrian College,
Adrian, MI

2008 Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD

2007 The University of Louisville,
Photo Archives, Louisville, KY
The Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University, Brunswick, NY

2006 High Museum of Art,
Atlanta, GA

2004 The William J. Clinton Presidential Library, Little Rock, ARK


Leddie and Children, '90


2003 The Gallery At Windsor, Vero Beach, FA
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England

2002 Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA

2000 The College of Santa Fe, Marion Center for Photographic Arts,
Santa Fe, NM
Maison Europeenne de la Photographie, Paris, France
The New York Public Library, New York City, NY
The Victor Barsokevitsch Photography Center, Kupoio, Finland

1999 and '04 The Snite Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame, IN
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, MI

1998 Musee De L'Elysee Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH
The Bank of America, New York City, NY

1997 University Art Gallery, New Mexico State University, Las Couces, NM

1996 Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, CA
Lamar Dodd Art Center, LaGrange College, LaGrange, GA

1995 The Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, TX
Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH
The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Columbia College, Chicago, IL.

1994 Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

1993 Photography Collection III - The Steinman Gift, Boca Raton Museum of Art,
Boca Raton, FL
The Graham Nash Collection, Manhattan Beach, CA
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MI

1992 and 95 International Center of Photography, NYC, NY


Beaver Gap,'98


1992 Danforth Museum of Art, Framington, MA
Time Life Collection, Rockefeller Center, NYC, NY
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA

1991 and '99 The Carpenter Center of the Visual Arts, Harvard University,
Cambridge, MA

1991 San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA
Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, AZ
University of Wyoming Art Museum, Laramie, WY

1989-93 Polaroid Collection, Cambridge, MA

1989 Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, CA

1988 Bayly Art Museum, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
University Art Museum, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

1985 and '91 The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Houston, TX

1984 and '95 The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

1983 The Museum of Modern Art, NYC, NY



Old Couple at Stenger's Cafe, '81
[Photo was couples wedding photograph.]


The Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC

1979 University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Clarence John Laughlin-Library and Art Collection, New Orleans Museum of Art,
New Orleans, LA

1977, 79, 99 and 2005 Cincinnati Art Museum, Cinti, OH

1975 The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

1974 The Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH


The Newsome Children, '97


Selected Solo Exhibitions

2023 Paul Paletti Gallery, "From the Heads of the Hollers," Oct. 5th - Dec. 31st, Louisville, KY, Exhibition and Book signing, Publisher GOST Books, London

2017 Paul Paletti Gallery, Finding Heaven in a Holler, First all color exhibition by the artist,  Sept. 22nd - Dec. 31, 2017, Louisville, KY
The University of Wyoming, Laramie Wyoming

2013 Salisbury University, exhibition and artist in residence, Salisbury, MD

2012-13 Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA

2012 Paul Paletti Gallery, Louisville, KY
Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago, IL

2011-12 Candela Gallery, Richmond, VA

2011 Davis/Orton Gallery, Hudson, NY
EFTI, Escuela de fotografia y Centro de Imagen, Madrid, Spain
Fahey/Klein Gallery, Los Angles, CA

2009 Fahey/Klein Gallery, Los Angles, CA
Elkton Gallery, Cecil College, Elkton, MD
Adrian College, Adrian, MI

2008 The Gate Way to Heaven Church,
Lost Creek, KY
Benefit for subjects and celebration of 35 years photographing.

2007 Paul Paletti Gallery, Louisville, KY
PhotoEspana 07, Sala Canal Isabel II, Madrid, Spain

2006 Lexington Art Gallery, Lexington, VA

2005 Carl Solway Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

2004 Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tenn

2003 Fahey/Klein Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Yossi Milo Gallery, New York City, NY
ACTA International, International Photography Festival of Rome, Italy

2002 Yossi Milo Gallery, New York City, NY
Bassetti Fine Art Photographs, New Orleans, LA
Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago, IL.
Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto, Ontario

2001 Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery, Dallas, TX

1999 Bassetti Fine Art Photography, New Orleans, LA
Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto, Ontario

1998 Musee de I'Elysee Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland


Brother's Praying, '93


Shelby's Dinner On the Ground and Book Signing, Celebration for friends and subjects of
"Appalachian Legacy," Perry Co. Park, Hazard, KY
Yancey Richardson Gallery, New York City, NY
Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago, IL
Photography Do Not Bend Gallery, Dallas, TX

1997 La Galerie VOX, Monteral, Quebec

1996 Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery, Dallas, TX



The Kitchen, '97


1995 Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
USVA, FotoGalerie, Groningen, The Netherlands
OK Harris Works of Art, New York City, NY

1994 International Center of Photography, Midtown, NYC, NY
Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago, IL
Etherton Gallery, Tucson, AZ
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

1993 Robert Koch Gallery, San Francisco, CA
OK Harris Works of Art, New York City, NY
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

1992 Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN

1991 Photographic Resource Center, Boston, MA
University of California, Berkeley, CA

1989 Harvard Fogg Museum, Cambridge, MA
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

1988 Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY

1987 The University of Alabama, University, AL
Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA

1986 Governors State University, Park Forest South, IL
Salem State College, Salem, MA

1985 University of Illinois, Chicago Campus, Chicago, IL
Project Arts Center, Cambridge, MA
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX

1984 Southern Light Gallery, Amarillo, TX
Photography Eye Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Center for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI

1983 Photogenesis Workshop and Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Governors State University, Park Forest South, IL
University of Delaware, Newark, DE

1982 The Simon Gallery, Montclair, NJ
Light Work, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Silver Bullet Gallery, Providence, RI

1981 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL

1980 University of Dayton, Dayton, OH


Shauna Faye and Stephanie Lynn, '91


Traveling Exhibitions

2018 - 2020 "The Extended Moment: Fifty Years of Collecting Photographs." National 
Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
The Morgan Library and Museum, New York City, with Catalogue, Ann Thomas and John McElhone, 1 photograph. 

 2018 - 21"Southbound: Photographs of and About the New South," Invitational exhibiti
on with 55 photographers represented, catalogue, web site and film, exhibit will travel to other venues, including The Hunter Museum, Chattanooga,TN. Organized by the Haley Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina. 10 images represented.

2017 - 2023 "The Polaroid Art and Technology Project," Curated by Barbara Hitchcock and William A. Ewing, in collaboration with M.I.T. Museum, Cambridge, the Westlicht Museum, Vienna, opens at the Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, travels to Asia and extended to Foundation Barrie in La Coruna, Spain which has made a 15 min. video of exhibition of which two of artist Polaroids are included, exhibition ends at the M.I.T. Museum in 2023. Thames and Hudson Publisher. Photographer has five images represented. Over 100 photographers will participate.

1998 - 2001 "Shelby Lee Adams, Appalachian Portraits",
Organized by The Musee de l'Elysee Lausanne, Curator William Ewing, 70 print exhibition, Premier European Exhibition
Lausanne, Switzerland, 1998
30th Annual Rencontres International Festival of Photography, Exhibition and lecture, Abbaye de Montmajour, Arles, France, 1999
The Fifth International Photography Biennial, Fotonoviembre 1999, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 1999
The Victor Barsokevitch Photographic Center, catalogue and poster, Kuoplo, Finland, 2000


The Hall's Porch '98

Books

2023 "From the Heads of the Hollers," 89 photographs, GOST Books, London, 11 x 14 inches, Hardbound only.

2011 "salt and truth," Introduction by James Enyeart, text by Catherine Evans and author, 80 Tri-tone reproductions, Meridian Printing, Publisher Candela Books, Richmond,VA, DAP distributor, Two separate clamshell encased Limited Edition 8x10 inch gelatin silver prints/books
in numeration of 35 each. Photograph titles, Frankie with Shucky Beans, '02 and Billy and Bethany with Coonskins, '03.

2003 "Appalachian Lives," Introduction and essay by Vicki Goldberg, text by author, 80 Duo tone reproductions, Topan Printer, University Press of Mississippi, Jackson, MS, Hardbound only

1998 "Appalachian Legacy," Introduction and photography by author, additional text by subjects, 85 Duo tone reproductions, University Press of Mississippi, Jackson, MS, Hardbound and paper editions

1993 "Appalachian Portraits," Introduction by Lee Smith, 52 Duo tone reproductions, University Press of Mississippi, Jackson, MS, Hardbound and paper editions with two separately encased limited edition slipcased 8x10 inch gelatin silver prints, collectors editions produced in numeration of 25 each. Photograph Titles, Brice and Crow on Porch, '92 and The Jacob Girls,'87.


Lost Creek Bridge,'97


Selected Publications

2023 "A Long Arc: Photography and the American South.” Group exhibition and publication, Aperture, NYC with exhibit at the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, 1 photo. 

 

2022 "Reckonings and Reconstructions," Georgia Museum of Art, catalogue, Athens, GA

2020 "Black & White Magazine," Issue #138, Shelby Lee Adams_Appalachian Portraits,13 photos, 10 page spread, Interview with David Best, Navato, CA
Kid's Wear,  Vol.50, 25th Anniversary, Koln, Germany, 1 photo represented

2019" The History of Fine Art Photography and Modern Painting," Claudio Edinger, author and editor, one image and biography, San Paulo, Brazil
"True To The Eyes, The Howard and Carole Tanenbaum Photo Collection," book and exhibition, Publisher Hirmer/Ryerson University, Toronto
"Iowa Magazine," Soul Searching, article by Josh O'Leary, University of Iowa, Iowa City, article and 4 images reproduced.

2017 "Subjective Objective: A Century of Social Photography," The Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University, catalogue and group exhibition, one photograph in exhibition and catalogue, Brunswick, NJ
"Salt-Of-The Earth," PortfolioMagazineNaples, Interview with Ara Hawkins, 10 page layout by Bill Hemmer, designer and publisher, Naples, FLA

2017-2020 "The Polaroid Project, At the Intersection of Art and Technology," Editors, William Ewing and Barbara Hitchcock, among others, Photographer has 3 images reproduced in catalogue and 5 in exhibit.  Publisher Thames and Hudson, London, Great Britain, International traveling exhibition. 

2016 "There was a whole collection made: Photography from Lester and Betty Guttman," Edited by Laura Letinsky and Jessica Moss, 2 images represented, Published by Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

2015 "Stories from the Camera, Reflections  on the photograph," Michele M. Penhall, editor, the collection of the University of New Mexico Art Museum, 3 images in collection, 1 image published, University of New Mexico Press, Alb. NM

2014 "The Photographer's Playbook," educational resource book with 280 contributors, Aperture, NYC, NY
"Kentucky Monthly," Vol. 17, Field Work, The Visionary Photography of Shelby Lee Adams, Portfolio represented, Interview, Sean Patrick Hill, Frankfort, Kentucky
"We Connect, A Global Youth Citizenship Curriculum," Referenced "The Napier Family," Site for study, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN

2013 "The Photography Collector's Guide," Lee Witkin and Barbara London, 1979, Revised by Lorraine Anne Davis, 1 photograph with one page of text and biography, Marquand Books, Seattle

2012 "By Way of These Eyes: The Hyland Collection," The American Museum in Britain, 3 photographs in exhibition and catalogue, Bath, Great Britain

"Interview with Shelby Lee Adams, by Brooks Jensen," LensWork, #98, Cover and extensive portfolio represented, with DVD slide show produced with audio interview, Anacortes, WA

"Rurality Now," Private, 6 images represented, #55, Paris, France

"The Portrait Issue," PDN, "An Ode to Appalachia," Edited text from "salt and truth," 8 images in portfolio published, NYC, NY

"19 Super Families," Slanted Magazine, portfolio of 7 images represented, Karlsruhe, Germany

2011 "Of Kentucky," New York Times, featured portfolio full page, Nov. 13th, with NYT Internet slide show, NYC, NY
"Salt and Truth," South X Southeast, John Bennette review, 12 image portfolio, Vol. I,
Pond House Publishing, Molene, GA

"Portraits from Appalachia," Renee Jacobs, writer/interviewer, Black and White magazine, Feature portfolio, article and cover of magazine, Subject: Guggenheim Party, Viper, KY, 15 images represented, issue #81, CA

"From Polaroid To Impossible," Barbara Hitchcock, Guest Curator, Rebekka Reuter, Chief Curator, Masterpieces of Instant Photography - The Westlicht Collection, WestLicht. Schauplatz fur Fotografie, exhibition and publication, Pub. Hatje Cantz, two photographs in exhibition, one in publication, Vienna, Austria

2010 "The Vigil," Smithsonian Magazine, March issue, Indelible Images Series,Writer Abby Tucker, Revisit of photo, "The Home Funeral," Washington, DC
"Mercy,"James Whitlow Delano, curator, Mado-sha publisher, Tokyo, Japan
1 image represented, "Jane with Diddles," 1994.

2008 "To The Dogs", Presentation House Gallery, Curator Peter Cully, Publication and exhibition, Vancouver, BC, one print
2007 "The Theatre of the Face", Max Kozloff, author, critic, authoritative account of Portraiture today, Phaidon Press, London, 4 photographs and text
"Local, The End of Globalisation", Paul Wombell, curator, publication catalogue for
07' PHOTOESPANA, Madrid, Spain, 5 photographs and text
"Foundation of Art and Design," Lois Fichner-Rathus, editor, art history book, Thomson/Wadsworth Publisher, CA, 1 photograph and text
"The Progressive Collection Book", Toby Devan Lewis, 30 years of collecting over 6,000 works of art, Cleveland, OH, 1 photograph

2006 "So Now Then", Edited by Christopher Coppock and Paul Seawright, photography festival publication, Hereford, Great Britain, 7 photographs and text
"American Photography 22", photography annual, Kathy Ryan, chairperson, NYC, 1 photograph
"Joint Venture", Co-curated by Matthis Geiger and Renny Pritikin, University of California, Davis, catalogue and exhibition, 4 photographs

2004 "The Appalachians: America's First and Last Frontier", Edited by Mari-Lynn Evans, Random House, NY, book, three part film series produced for PBS and DVD, 30 photographs and essay

2003 "In Celebration of Light", Cheryl and James F. Pierce, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu, book and exhibition, 1 photograph

2002 "Appalachian Time Traveler", Black and White Magazine, Text Rick Newby, portfolio
Arrayo Grande, CA. 13 photographs
"Photographers, Writers and The American Scene", Arena Editions, Editor, James L. Enyeart, traveling exhibition and book publication, 6 photographs
"Mutter Museum", Editor Gretchen Worden, book and traveling exhibition, Blast Books, NY, 3 photographs
"Portfolio - Shelby Lee Adams", Artform, Text Bob Nickas, portfolio, NYC, NY, 4 photos.

2001 "Embracing Appalachians," Visual ID, Text Eikou Ikui, feature article and portfolio, Tokyo, Japan, 30 photographs
"On the Back Roads," PhotoVision, feature article and portfolio, Boulder, Co. 10 photographs
"A Thousand Hounds," Tashen publisher, editors, Raymond W. Mettit and Miles Barth, Germany, 3 photographs

2000 "American Photography 16," photography annual, NYC NY
7 photographs

1999"Sunday Best,"The New York Times Magazine, Text Ingred Sischy,
photo essay, NYC NY 10 photographs
"In the South Portfolio," International Fund for Documentary Photography, Mother Jones, commissioned limited edition photograph for portfolio, San Francisco, CA
"Love and Desire," Editor and author, William Ewing, publisher Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 3 photographs
"Appalachian Portraits: Two Families," LensWork, journal, editor and interview with Brooks Jensen, Portland, OR, cover and 18 photographs
"You Can Go Home Again," American PHOTO, Jack Crager, interview and portfolio, NYC NY 6 photographs
"Innovation/Imagination: 50 Years of Polaroid Photography," Editors, Deborah
Klochko and Barbara Hitchcock, book and traveling exhibition, publishers, The Friends of Photo/Abrams, NYC NY 1 photograph
"View Camera"
Interview with Abigail Foerstner, magazine, Sacramento, CA, 4 photographs
"Amerika," editor Frans Verhagen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 10 photographs
"PHOTO Technik International," interview and portfolio, Munchen, Germany, 12 photographs
"Spot," interview with Gregory Spaid, magazine, Houston Center for Photography, Houston, TX, 6 photographs
"BlackFlash," Interview with Johanna Mizgala, journal, Saskatchewan, Canada, 5 photographs

1998-99 "Photography's multiple roles: Art, Document, Market,Science," Denise Miller, Director, book and exhibition, 1 photograph, DAP/Art Publishers, The Museum of Contemporary Photo, Chicago, IL

1998 "The Pictures of Texas Monthly: 25 Years," Anne W. Tucker, editor, anniversary book, Texas Monthly publisher, Austin, TX, book, traveling exhbition for two years, 1 photograph
"Gone Home Again," Ace Magazine, interview, Rhonda Reeves, cover story, portfolio and location photos of book signing, Lexington, KY, 4 portfolio photos
"God's Own Country," Basler Zeitung, writer Bernhard Matuschak visited Appalachia and did personal interviews, essay and portfolio, Basel, Switzerland, 10 photographs

1997 "Fine Art Photography II," collection, Graphis, Zurich, Switzerland, 2 photographs
"The Photography Book," editor, Ian Jeffrey, International history of photography book, Phaidon, London, 1 photography and biography
"Catalogue of Photography," curator and author Tom Hinson, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, 7 photographs and biography

1996 "The Personal Eye," Contents Vol. 14, assignment, Olympic sailors of '96, Savannah, GA, 11 page photography essay
"Is the South Still Gothic," Oxford American, Oxford, MS, 1 photograph
"American Photography," Vol. XII, NYC, NY, 2 photographs
"Tim Robbins," Interview, Suddeutsche Zeitung Magazine, Munich, Germany, 2 photographs
"Hooterville," Long Shot, National Poetry Journal, Vol. 18, Hoboken, NJ, essay and 5 photographs

1995 "Fine Art Photography 95," collection, Graphis, Zurich, Switzerland, 1 photograph
"New Works," Contents, Issue II, Savannah, GA, essay and portfolio
"Burning Down the Woods," assignment, Texas Monthly, Austin, TX, essay and portfolio
"The Holiness People," Amerika, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, essay and portfolio

1994 "The Picture Man," Amerika, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, cover, essay and portfolio
" Southern Man," Camera and Darkroom, editor, Dear Brierly, Interview and essay, Beverly Hills, CA, 12 photographs

1993 "Portraits from Appalachia," View Camera, editor, Lizabeth A. Johnson, interview, Sacramento, CA, cover and 4 photographs
"Shelby Lee Adams," Photographer's Form, Interview with Gretje Ferguson, Santa Barbara, CA, 8 photographs
"The Hills Have Eyes," New York Press, Interview, John Strausbaugh, NYC, NY, cover and 3 photographs
"Portraits From the Southern Mountains,"The Chronicle of Higher Education, End Paper, Washington, DC, 1 photograph

1992 "Our Town," Aperture, #127, NYC, NY, text and 5 photographs
"More Reflections on the Meaning of Life," Time, Inc. Editor David Friend, book, NYC, 1 photograph
"Neue Rundscheu," Literary Arts Journal, Germany, Text and 5 photographs
"Aesthetic tabloid," Tucson, AZ, 4 photographs

1991 "Mother Jones," portfolio and interview, San Francisco, CA
"The Circle of Life," editor, David Cohen, Harper Collins, San Francisco, CA
book, 1 photograph
"World Views," The First Mother Jones International Documentary Photography Awards, catalog and portfolio
"The Home Funeral," Life Magazine, NYC, October Issue, 1 photograph, two page spread

1990 "Selection 5," Fifth Biennial International Polaroid Collection Exhibition and catalog,
Cologne, West Germany, 1 photograph

1989 "Close To Home," editor, David Featherstone, Friends of Photography, text and portfolio, San Francisco, CA
"Myth and Reality of Southern Photographers," Aperture periodical #115, 1 photograph NYC, NY

1988 "Woodstock Center of Photography," journal, cover, text on Holiness religion and portfolio, Woodstock, NY

1987 "San Francisco Camerawork," Issue #14, cover image, article and portfolio, San Francisco, CA

1986 "The Arts Journal," arts publication, interview and portfolio, Atlanta, GA
"Sextant," Salem State College, journal, portfolio, Salem, MA

1985 "Maine Photo Workshop Annual," Rockport, MA, 1 photograph

1982 "Time-Life Photo Annual 1982," 1 image represented in book, Washington, DC

1981 "Poudre Review," arts publication, Fort Collins, CO, article and portfolio

1980 "Photography Annual 1980/81," editor, Jim Hughes, Ziff Davis Publishers, NYC, portfolio

1979 "Appalachia A Self-Portrait," editor and photographer, Wendy Ewald, book and traveling exhibition, Publisher Gnomon Press, Introduction Robert Coles, NEA Survey Grant, Frankfort, KY



Cecil, The Woodworker, 1992



Selected Workshops, Multimedia, Seminars and Lectures

2017 "Environmental Portraiture," Held at Arrowhead, the Historic Home of Herman Melville and concurrently at the photographers home, workshop emphasis lighting and photographing  people in their environments,  Pittsfield, MA 

2016 "Appalachian Polaroids," 2nd performance, composer Steven Snowden's musical creation for the Aeolus Quartet, illustrated with a collaborative slide show presentation of Shelby's photographic works, sponsored by Chamber Music America, Corcoran Gallery, Washington, DC 

2015 & 2016 "Your Voice In Portrait Lighting," Advanced photo workshop, International Center of Photography, NYC, NY

2014 "Appalachian Polaroids," composer Steven Snowden, created a musical score for the Aeolus Quartet, Performed first time collaboratively with the photographer's work at performance center Roulette, sponsor Ear Heart Music, Brooklyn, NY
"Finding your Voice with Photography," International Center of Photography, 4 day workshop, NYC, NY
"Four Generations," slide lecture and workshop, sponsor Colorado Photo Arts Center, Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO


2013 "Four Generations," Slide presentation and lecture, Center for Creative Photography,
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
 "Environmental Portraiture," photography workshop, Aperture, NYC
"Environmental Portraiture," summer, International Center of Photography, 1 week, NYC
"Finding your Voice with Lighting," photography workshop, winter, International Center of Photography, NYC
Salisbury University, exhibition and artist lecture, Salisbury, MD

2012 PhotoNOLA Annual photo conference, Key-note Speaker, New Orleans, LA,
with concurrent  exhibitions at Ogden Museum of Southern Art and A Gallery for Fine Photography, New Orleans, LA
Palm Springs Photo Workshop/Festival, 4 day workshop, slide lecture and book signing,
Palm Springs, CA
"Finding your Voice With Lighting," 4 day studio/location lighting workshop, International Center of Photography, NYC
Lecture and slide presentation, "Salt and Truth," Photographic Resource Center, Boston, MA
"Environmental Portraiture," Slide Lecture and critiques, New England Large Format Photo Collective, Springfield, MA
"Path," Athens Photographic Project, Guest Curator and Juror for annual photo based exhibition/competition and catalogue, Athens, OH
Center for Photography at Woodstock, weekend workshop, critiques and slide presentation, Woodstock, NY
Summersite Program, Environmental Portraiture, 1 week workshop, International Center of Photography, NYC

2011 "Master Workshop," EFTI, Advanced photography program, 1 week, Madrid, Spain
New Space Center for Photography, Environmental Portraiture, 1 week workshop, Portland, OR
"The Nature of Documentary," 4 day studio/location workshop, International Center for Photography, NYC, NY
"Photography: The Document," Photo Conference, Key-note speaker, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

2010 The Julia Dean Photo Workshops, July - 1 week photo workshop, Venice, CA
International Center of Photography, four day workshop/seminar,
The Nature Of Documentary, NYC, NY
Yale University School of Medicine, Lecture - "Appalachian Portraits: A Healing Perspective,"
New Haven, CONN
PhotoAlliance, Slide Lecture, San Francisco Art Institute, Lecture Hall, San Francisco, CA
Project Basho, Portrait Photography Workshop, Philadelphia, Penn.

2009 Adrian College, artist in residence, lecture and exhibition, Adrian, MI
Siena Heights University, portfolio reviews and slide lecture, Adrian, MI
International Center of Photography, Photography workshop [1 week], NYC, NY
Photostock 2009, North Light Photographic Workshops, Keynote speaker and portfolio reviews, Petoskey, MI
Union College, Slide Lecture and portfolio reviews, Schenectady, NY

2008 International Center of Photography, Seminar-The Nature of Documentary, [4 day]
NYC, NY
New Hampshire Institute of Art, Commencement Speaker, Manchester, NH
University of Central Arkansas, Visiting Artist, Lecture and Critiques, Conway, AK


2007 Project Basho, Portrait Photo Workshop, Philadelphia, Penn.
View Camera Annual Photography Conference, Keynote Speaker and exhibition at Paul Paletti Gallery, Louisville, KY
International Center of Photography, Photography Workshop, NYC, NY

2006 "Light Conversations," Harvard University, interactive seminar, Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, MA
Hereford Photography Festival, one panelist of six-defining documentary, exhibition,
Hereford, Great Britain
Miami University, Guest Lecture, Hamilton, Ohio
Shawnee State University, Lecture and photo workshop, Portsmouth, OH
Virginia Military Institute, Slide Lecture, Lexington, VA
International Center of Photography, Seminar/Workshop-The Nature of Documentary, NYC, NY

2005 Woodstock Center of Photography, Weekend workshop and lecture, Woodstock, NY
Aperture Foundation, slide lecture, series, NYC, NY
Santa Fe Center for Photographic Studies, Photo workshop [1 week], Santa Fe, NM
Willamette University, Hogue-Sponenburg Art Lecture, Salem, OR
International Center of Photography, Seminar and photography workshop, NYC, NY

2004 International Center of Photography, seminar and photography workshop, NYC, NY

2003 Woodstock Center of Photography, Weekend workshop and lecture, Woodstock, NY
International Center of Photography, photo workshop and seminar, NYC, NY

2002 International Center of Photography, The Nature of Documentary, Photography workshop, NYC, NY

2001 International Center of Photography, Seminar and photo workshop, NYC, NY

2000 The University of Texas at Austin, Slide Presentation and lecture, Austin, TX
The Cleveland Institute of Art, Slide presentation and lecture, Cleveland, OH
Anderson Ranch, one week photo workshop, Snowmass Village, CO

1999 Harvard University, Nieman Foundation Lecture, Cambridge, MA
Toronto Photography Festival, Slide lecture, Ontario
30th Annual International Arles Photography Festival, lecture and exhibition,
Arles, France
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Photography workshop, Kalamazoo, MI
International Center of Photography, seminar and workshop, NYC, NY

1998 Cincinnati Art Museum, slide lecture, Cinti. OH
Dallas Museum of Art, slide lecture, Dallas, TX
Bates College, slide lecture, Lewiston, ME
Penland School of Arts and Crafts, workshop, Penland, NC
Musee de l'Elysee Lausanne, lecture and research, Lausanne, Switzerland
Anderson Ranch Arts Center, 1 week photo workshop, Aspen, CO
International Center of Photography, photo workshop, NYC, NY

1997 Columbia College, Photography Graduate Seminar, Chicago, IL
International Center of Photography, workshop, NYC, NY

1996-97 Bennington College, Artist-In-Residence, 1 year, Photography

1996 Millsaps College, The Snake Handling Mystique, seminar, Jackson, MS
Anderson Ranch Arts Center, photo workshop, Aspen, CO

1995 Santa Fe Photographic Workshop, 1 Week Photo Workshop, Santa Fe, New Mexico
USVA, FotoGalerie, workshop, Groningen, The Netherlands

1994 Anderson Ranch Arts Center, 1 week photo workshop, Aspen, CO

1993 Penn State University, photo workshop, University Park, PA

1988 University of Virginia - Charlotte, Slide Lecture and exhibition, Charlotte, VA

1986 The Light Factory, Key-note opening presentation at Society of Photographic Education
Southern Regional Fall Conference, Charlotte, NC


Grandma and Cat, 1973


Selected Two Person Exhibitions

1996 "Keith Carter and Shelby Lee Adams," Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

1992 "From the Inside - Shelby Lee Adams and Larry Fink," Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago, IL

1991 "OPSIS Pairs: Shelby Lee Adams and Steve Hart," OPSIS Foundation, NYC, NY

1988 "In Pursuit of the Human Spirit: Photographs from the South, Nicholas Nixon and Shelby Lee Adams," artist in residence and exhibition, Charlottesville, VA

1986-1987 "A Comparative Portrait of Appalachia: Photographs by Doris Ulman and Shelby Lee Adams," The Light Gallery, Charlotte, NC

1980 "Mike Disfarmer-Shelby Lee Adams," San Francisco Camerawork Gallery, San Francisco, CA


Mr. Dixon, 1985


Selected Group Exhibitions

2023 House of Photographs, Group exhibit, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Penn.1 photo

 


2022 Reckonings and Reconstructions, Georgia Museum of Art, exhibition and catalogue, 2 prints represented with audio description, Athens, GA

2019 "Edward Weston's Leaves of Grass," Center for Photography, Heritage Gallery, Tucson, AZ. 1 photo represented.

2016 "Ourselves Through the Lens: Photography from the Ramer Collection," Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
"Kentucky Captured: Photographs Inspired by the Bluegrass State," Curated by Elizabeth Reilly and Marcy Werner, 3 photos represented, J. B. Speed Museum [newly renovated], University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
"Casting Shadows," Fralin Museum, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 2 photos.

2014-15 "Self-Processing: Instant Photography," Group exhibition of Polaroid materials, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA [Oct.-Jan.]

2012 "Invitational-50th Anniversary Exhibition," University of Louisville Photography Archives, catalogue, Louisville, KY

2011 "Southern Views/Southern Photographers," Curator, William Wylie, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
"Face to Face: Works from the Bank of America Collection," The Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, CA 
"Recollections: Thirty Years of Photography at The New York Public Library," New York City, NY
2010 "20 years of the Hereford Photography Festival," 20 photographers represented,
Hereford Museum and Art Gallery, Hereford, UK
"Catherine Randolph Collection,"
Atrium Gallery, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD
"Proof," Group Exhibition, The Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago, IL

2009-10 "Picturing the Process: The Photograph as Witness," Museum of Photographic Arts, San Digeo, CA

2009 "Small is Beautiful," The Arts Pavillon, The Arts Institute in Boumemouth, Boumemouth, Great Britan
"Christopher Hyland Collection," New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CONN, three photographs
"Looking Forward: New Works and New Directions for the Permanent Collection,"
Ashville Art Museum, Ashville, NC
"This Is Not a Fashion Photograph," Curator Vince Aletti, International Center of Photography, Midtown, NYC, NY

2008 "Not all of Man's Best Friends Are Dog's," Fahey/Klein Gallery, LA
"Under the Influence, The Photographic Homage," Catherine Edelman Gallery,
Chicago, IL

2006 "100 Great American Photograph's," Curator, John Rohrbach, Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, TX
"So Now Then," Hereford Photography Festival, International exhibition, participant at panel discussion
and publication, Hereford, UK

2005 "A New Kind Of Historical Evidence: Photographs from the Carpenter Center Collection," The Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, MA

2004 "Inside Out: Portrait Photographs from the Permanent Collection," Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC, NY

2003 "Pictures From Within: American Photographs, 1958-2002, Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC, NY
"The Family," The Gallery at Windsor, publication and exhibition, Vero Beach, FL
"The Social Lens": Photographs from the Ray Graham Collection, University Art Museum,
Albuquerque, NM
"30 Years" Three Decades of New Art at Second St. Gallery, Charlottesville, VA

2002 "Animal Logic," Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto, Canada
"What Were You Thinking," Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Mutter Museum Photographs," Ricco/Maresca Gallery, NYC, NY

2001 " God is Dog Spelled Backwards," G. Gibson Gallery, Seattle, WA
"The Alchemy of Light," Cumberland Gallery, Nashville, TN
"Photoanatomic," Barrister's Gallery, New Orleans, LA
"Myth, Memory and Imagination," Morris Museum of Art, Augusta, GA

2000-2001 "American Perspectives: Photographs from the Polaroid Collection,"
Curator Michiko Kasahara, Tokyo Metropolitian Museum of Photography,
catalogue and exhibition will travel to 3 additional sites, Tokyo, Japan

2000-2003 "National Millennium Survey," Director James Enyeart, Center for Photographic Arts, College of Santa Fe, national traveling exhibition, book publication,
CD-ROM, Santa Fe, NM

2000 "Personae: Portraits from the Collection," The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Columbia College, Chicago, IL
"Watchful Eyes," Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago, IL

1999 "Treasures for the Permanent Collection," Kalamazoo Institute of Arts,
Kalamazoo, MI
"99 Friends of Friends Photo Auction," Friends Without A Border,
Photography Auction and catalogue, NYC, NY
"Face to Face: Four Centuries of Portraits," Vancouver, Canada
"Faith and Doubt In Contemporary Southern Photography," Lewis Art Gallery,
Millsaps College, Jackson, MS

1998 "Southern Exposure," Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery, Dallas, TX
"Blue," Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
"10 Years," Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago, IL

1996-98 "It's US," National Traveling Exhibition, Time Warner, In Association with The American Library Association, opening Washington, DC, three year tour, 85 sites

1997 "View South," Photo Americas, Curator, Clint Willour, Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Tulsa, OK
"Of Blood & Affection," Toronto Photographers Workshop, Curators, Carol Pickering and Robyn, brochure with essays, Toronto, Ontario
"Backyards," Robert Mann Gallery, NYC, NY

1996-1997 "Legacy of Light, Master Photographers from the Cleveland Museum of Art, Curator and writer, catalogue, Tom Hinson, Cleveland, OH

1996 "The South by Its' Photographers," Birmingham Museum of Art, catalogue and traveling exhibit, Birmingham, AL
"Contemporary Photographs of the South: A Personal Selection," catalogue, The Columbus Museum, Columbus, GA
"Photographs in the 1990's," Wright State University, International exhibition and CD-Rom catalogue, Dayton, OH
"Then and Now: The First Eight Year," Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Beyond Arts Medica," Thread Waxing Space, catalogue, NYC, NY

1995 "We Look and See," University Art Museum, Berkeley, CA
"Streets Seen," Norton Center for the Arts, Center College, Danville, KY
"Process and Time," Three Photographers, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
"Personal Documentary," Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, Az

1994 "The Reckless Moment," Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
"A Photographic Bestiary," Robert Koch Gallery, San Francisco, CA
"Workshop Instructors," Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Aspen, CO
"Devotion, Faith and Fervor - The Faithful and The Damned," 292 Gallery, NYC, NY
"Selections From the Collection," Center for Photography at Woodstock, Woodstock, NY

1993-94 "Mutter Museum, Photographs of the Collection," The Book Trader Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
"World View," Mother Jones International Fund for Documentary Photography, exhibition with catalogue traveled to 15 sites, including France and Belgium, San Francisco, CA

1993 "Photographs for Friends in Deeds," AIDS Fund Raiser Auction, Sotheby's Catalogue and exhibition, NYC, NY
"Beyond the Walls," Eastern State Penitentiary, Moore College of Art and Design, exhibition, fine arts calendar produced, Philadelphia, PA

1992-93 "Selection 6," Polaroid International Exhibition, catalogue and traveling exhibit, Cologne, Germany

1992 "Our Town," Burden Gallery, Aperture exhibition and publication #127, NYC, NY
"New England Photographer '92," Danforth Museum of Art, catalogue, Framingham, MA
"More Reflections on the Meaning of Life," Time, Inc. book and national tour, NYC, NY
"New Acquisitions/New Work/New Directions," Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
"New Acquisitions," University of Wyoming Art Museum, Laramie,WY

1991 "1st Mother Jones International Documentary Photography Exhibit," portfolio exhibited, The Friends of Photography, San Francisco, CA
"The Circle of Life," International traveling exhibition, debut-California Academy of Science, book, 1 photo represented, Harper Collins, San Francisco, CA

1990-92 "Selections 5," Polaroid International Exhibition, traveled throughout Europe

1990 "International Photography Exchange Exhibit with Russia," United Artist Gallery of Kharkov, Ukraine, one of 11 photographers selected from US.
"Photography, Fellow, and Finalist," Artist Foundation, Boston, MA

1989-90 "Recent Acquisitions in Photography," Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2 photographs, Washington, DC
"The Collector's Eye," Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM

1989 "Southern Photography Exhibition," Burden Gallery, Aperture, publication #115, NYC, NY
"Point of Convergence-Recent Acquisitions," Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, CA

1987 "Spirit in the Land: Photographs from the Bible Belt," San Francisco Cameraworks Gallery, San Francisco,CA
"Kansas City Art Institute," group exhibition, Kansas City, MS
"Blatant Image/Silver Eye Gallery," group exhibition, Pittsburgh, PA

1986 "1986 Annual Show," Maine Photography Workshops, catalogue, Soho, NYC, NY

1985 Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Houston, TX
Penn. State University, University Park, PA
Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH

1984 An American Place, Chicago, IL
Carl Solway Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
The Simon Gallery, Montclair, NJ

1983 Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, OH

1982-83 Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

1982 "Perceptions," Parsons School of Design, First prize Award, NYC, NY
Infinity Gallery, Governors State University, Park Forest South, IL
Carl Solway Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

1981-82 Permanent Collection Exhibition, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cinti, OH

1981 The Finished Print, The Art Guild, Framington, CT

1980 American Visions, New York University, Honorable Mention, NYC, NY

1979 Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
Huntington Galleries, Huntington, WV
International Center of Photography, NYC, NY
Eleventh Street Photo Gallery, NYC, NY


Richmond's Ladder, 1999



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Sunday, March 4, 2007

Excerpts: We Are Still One People
November 2013



The New Bicycle, 2004



My photography over time presents our people in a formal, and perhaps a more studied way. We live our lives, recalling and reflecting upon important events. In their grit and determination, my friends express themselves, the invisible confidence that flows between us imprints upon the photographs.
—Shelby Lee Adams




“People are felt rather than seen after the first few moments.”

—John Steinbeck

“East of Eden”

David, 1978, Roxanne



Shelby photographing David and another child, Roxanne, 1978
Photo made by Mark Karpenski


Polaroids from David's 1978 photo session.


David, Bad to the Bone, 1985



Ronnie holding Jeremy, 2008


Newsome Boy, 1989, Polaroids




         Is it not one’s socio-political status in life that grants ones rated visibility as something more important? In portraiture and human representation, faced with the inconsistency or incompleteness of a person’s form we feel entitled to say dispassionately, that face is ugly and unimportant, especially when one comes from poverty. If given a chance, cannot any form of humanity be elevated, redeemed and transformed by a faithful artistic portrayal?
                                       —Shelby Lee Adams


Kizzie, 2008


Janet Malcom's take on Agee/Evans, Let us Now Praise Famous Men.



       "This has always been the problem with Agee's book: the pictures and the text don't agree. The text is a howl of anger and anguish over the misery of the sharecroppers' lives. How can people live like this? How can the rest of us permit it, tolerate it, bear it? Agee cries. "Don't listen to him," the serene, orderly Walker Evans photographs seem to say. "He exaggerates. He gets carried away. It's not as bad as he says."

       In all probability, Walker Evans himself believed nothing of the kind. The disparity between the testimony of his photographs and that of Agee's text comes not out of a disagreement between the two witnesses about what they saw but out of photography's inadequacy as a describer of how things are. The camera is simply not the supple and powerful instrument of description that the pen is. 

                                                     —Janet Malcolm


Larry and Billie, 2003
Bubba Road



Abandon, 1994
Printed 2024




Owsley C0. Man, 1994
Printed 2024












The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by fines and federal imprisonment.