Close Enough: New Perspectives from 12 Women Photographers of Magnum presents pivotal projects in the careers of 12 modern women photographers of Magnum Photos, the pioneering photography collective. Each of the photographers narrates their creative journey, providing vantage points into the extraordinary relationships they create within global situations, communities, and individual subjects.

With a title inspired by Magnum co-founder Robert Capa’s quote “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough,” Close Enough presents more than 150 works of art by women, including Sabiha Çimen’s explorations of the experiences of young Islamic women in Turkey; Alessandra Sanguinetti’s long-term collaboration with the rural Argentinean cousins Guille and Belinda, as they evolve from childhood into adulthood; Bieke Depoorter’s multiyear, multiform project Agata, about a young club performer in Paris; and Susan Meiselas’ work with women who sought refuge from domestic violence in the Midlands, UK. Female photographers in the exhibition include Olivia Arthur, Myriam Boulos, Sabiha Çimen, Bieke Depoorter, Cristina de Middel, Carolyn Drake, Nanna Heitmann, Susan Meiselas, Hannah Price, Lua Ribeira, Alessandra Sanguinetti, and Newsha Tavakolian. Curated by Charlotte Cotton, the exhibition coincides with the 75th anniversary of Magnum Photos’ founding. 

About Magnum Photos

Magnum Photos is a co-operative of acclaimed, independent photographers who share an ongoing commitment to documenting world events, people, places, daily life, and culture. Founded in 1947, Magnum Photos has been telling stories of the past, defining the present, and shaping the future through photography for over 75 years, united by its values of uncompromising excellence, truth, respect, and independence. With more than 6.6 million followers across the internet, and a rolling program of museum shows, exhibitions, and events across the globe, Magnum photographers continue to inspire a growing worldwide audience. In 2022, Magnum Photos celebrates its 75th year with the launch of a special anniversary program highlighting the agency’s historic legacy, community, and photographic practices.

About the Curator

Charlotte Cotton is a curator, writer and creative consultant who has explored photographic culture for over 25 years. She has held positions including curator of photographs at the Victoria and Albert Museum, head of programming at The Photographers’ Gallery in London, curator and head of the Wallis Annenberg Department of Photography at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and curator-in-residence at Katonah Museum of Art, NY. She has also held positions at ICP and California Museum of Photography, Riverside. Her book, The Photograph as Contemporary Art, is published in more than ten languages and has been a key text in charting the rise of photography as an undisputed art form in the 21st century. The fourth edition was published in September 2020.

Availability

This exhibition is available for tour. If your institution is interested in finding out about availability or to reserve a slot on the tour, please contact travelingexhibitions@icp.org.

Header image by Myriam Boulos; installation images by Scott Rudd Events for ICP
A cluster of photographs making up one art piece in a photography exhibit.
A young man reading the information for a Hannah Price ICP exhibit.

Special Thanks

Exhibitions at ICP are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.