Exhibition Review: Baldwin Lee
Untitled, Monroe, Louisiana, 1985
Gelatin silver print; printed c.1985
15 x 18 7/8 inches
© Baldwin Lee, Courtesy of Hunters Point Press and Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York
Written by Ema Kojić
Chinese-American photographer Baldwin Lee left his home in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1983 to take photographs. Within just a few years, Lee captured incredible images of African Americans in the American South that led his photographs to fame.
Untitled, 1983-1989
Gelatin silver print; printed 1983-1989
15 x 19 inches
© Baldwin Lee, Courtesy of Hunters Point Press and Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York
Baldwin Lee was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1951. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1972. In 1975, Lee graduated from the Yale University School of Art with his Master of Fine Arts degree.
Lee is a first generation Chinese-American, living in Knoxville, Tennessee. He left the city in 1983 with his 4 x 5 view camera. This began his journey that would become a series of road trips through the American South. At this point, Lee had no clear subject or chosen mission, yet. During his first trip, Lee began to photograph African Americans. These images captured African Americans living at home, at work, at play, and other things. Lee became focused on this community as his subject. For seven years, Lee took frequent road trips through the South where he was able to capture over 10,000 black-and-white negatives. Lee took incredibly profound and powerful images. He continued to travel to the South to continue his work. His work was shortly after placed in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Plain Dealing, Louisiana, 1984
Gelatin silver print; printed c.1984
15 x 18 7/8 inches
© Baldwin Lee, Courtesy of Hunters Point Press and Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York
Lee’s work is in black and white. The lack of color in his images create a strong contrast in the boldness of the subjects and their settings.
This exhibit at the Howard Greenberg Gallery is Lee’s first solo exhibition of his work in NYC. It will be available at the gallery on East 57th Street in New York City from September 22 until November 12, 2022. This exhibition has 30 pictures from Hunters Point Press’ book on Lee. There is an archive of nearly 10,000 black-and-white negatives from the seven years of road trips the photographer went on.
Lakeland, Florida, 1984
Gelatin silver print; printed c.1984
15 x 18 7/8 inches
© Baldwin Lee, Courtesy of Hunters Point Press and Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York
Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1983
Gelatin silver print; printed c.1983
15 x 18 7/8 inches
© Baldwin Lee, Courtesy of Hunters Point Press and Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York
Lee’s pictures have a sharpness and edge to them that makes his work unique. They captured a diverse community of African Americans in their daily lives. His images resonate with many because of the subjects being casual, “regular Joe” kind of characters. Lee took photos of people living their lives in a place and community that is often misunderstood, underrepresented, and so rich in culture.
Lee’s images tell the story of people who live common lives. The images show a variety of ages within these communities. They show elderly people, children, adults, just living their lives at their home, their jobs and their lives.
Untitled, 1983-1989
Gelatin silver print; printed 1983-1989
15 x 18 7/8 inches
© Baldwin Lee, Courtesy of Hunters Point Press and Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York
These children posing for Lee prove his ability to capture a natural and unfiltered life that was so under-represented in the media. Nearly 40 years after beginning his journey, Lee’s images still carry a compelling story with them. They’re able to bring emotions, color, and life to images that are literally colorless.
