Sarasota Art Museum hosts 'Presence' photography exhibition by Judy Glickman Lauder

The Sarasota Art Museum is currently hosting 'Presence,' a photography exhibition curated by Judy Glickman Lauder, an acclaimed photographer and collector, WUSF reported.

Lauder, 88, has spent over 50 years gathering more than 700 images by renowned photographers such as Richard Avedon, Gordon Parks, and Dorothea Lange. The traveling exhibition at Sarasota is one of only four venues nationwide chosen to display a selection of these iconic works.

The exhibit is organized into seven thematic sections, including Portraits, Affection and Admiration, Expressing the Land, Specters of History, Labor, Justice and Dignity, Joy, Delight and Serendipity, and Vibrancy. These themes reflect Lauder's deep interest in humanity and social issues.

Lauder's passion for photography and humanistic themes was influenced by her upbringing in northern California, where she was exposed to notable photographers through her father. She began seriously collecting and creating photography after raising her four children.

Many images from Lauder's collection have been donated to the Portland Museum of Art in Maine, but the Sarasota show offers a unique opportunity for Tampa Bay area residents to experience these powerful photographs locally.