Photo courtesy of Aperture
DPI Chair Dr. Deborah Willis and alum Hank Willis Thomas (BFA '98) were among those honored at the 2018 Aperture Foundation Gala. The other honorees of the evening included Agnes Gund, Catherine Gund, and Catherine Opie for their contributions to art and photography and to the power of family: the human family and the families who support us (including the families we choose). Event cohosts included musical artist Sir Elton John and philanthropists Judy and Leonard Lauder, Nion McEvoy, and Jessica Nagle. The evening also marked the launch date of an issue of Aperture magazine exploring the topic of “Family.”
Agnes Gund is an arts philanthropist whose advocacy for arts education and social justice has made a difference in the lives of countless families and communities. Her daughter Catherine Gund extends her activism and philanthropic missions through her work as a producer, writer, and documentary filmmaker. Aperture honors the Gund women for their tireless contributions toward supporting communities through art.
Catherine Opie is an acclaimed photographer and professor of photography at the University of California, Los Angeles, whom Aperture honors for trailblazing work that has paid tribute to her own community and helped create an enduring visual record of LGBTQ families.
Dr. Deborah Willis is a visionary scholar, curator, and artist who has expanded our understanding of photography history and representations of African American family life. Dr. Willis is currently professor and chair of the Department of Photography and Imaging at New York University. Willis’s son, Hank Willis Thomas, has established a prolific career creating urgent multimedia work exploring the intersections of race, identity, and image-making. Aperture honors the two for their paramount additions to art communities and cultural history.