Today we speak to curator Charlotte Cotton on her latest work for the upcoming exhibition at ICP- “Close Enough: New Perspectives from 12 Women Photographers of Magnum” opening on September 30th.

“I commend all of the contributing photographers for being open and honest about their working practices and speaking intentionally and directly to their fellow photographers who will come to see this exhibition about the practices of humanist photography today. Through the combination of newly made work, reflections on previous projects, and works-in-progress in this exhibition, we gain insight into this group’s determination, urgency, and resourcefulness, with each photographer taking account of her practice, inviting us to get close enough.” - Charlotte Cotton

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, London; curator and head of the Wallis Annenberg Photography Department at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; and curator-in-residence at the Katonah Museum of Art, NY. She has also held positions at ICP and the California Museum of Photography, Riverside. Her book, The Photograph as Contemporary Art, has been published in more than 10 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.

Career highlights so far Charlotte?

Sitting at a dinner table back in the early 2000s with Henri Cartier-Bresson and William Eggleston. I mean, that doesn't happen every day.

Greatest inspirations?

Other people. I'm a curator through and through. You don't do anything alone and you create for others. At the core of curating is the pledge to "take care" of people and their creativity.

Tell us about your creative process - how did you come up with the theme, and the selection of artists.

The exhibition Close Enough shows the working processes of twelve women photographers who are or have been part of the Magnum collective. My curation has focused on creating visual and textual conversations between the photographers, their motivations and their relationships with their photographic subjects. It's an intentionally very open and honest exhibition thanks to these incredible photographers who have been willing to reveal their questioning and deliberations. My aim has been to create a highly relatable set of conversations for visitors to the exhibition, anticipating that they also make pictures and similarly deliberate the big questions of why we make photographs now.

As a curator what is the greatest challenge in presenting a "voice"?

I don't think of it as a challenge but primarily an honor to channel the energy and character of authored creative journeys. I think the challenge of all curating is to stay true to the intention – to not overcomplicate or over-burden the form of an exhibition or book or live program. Choosing the right form or platform for the "voice" is essential.

What are you hoping people will feel, or learn from visiting the exhibition?

I hope visitors will feel inspired and galvanized by the honesty and openness of the remarkable photographers participating in this exhibition. Their resourcefulness and determination has been what I have felt most strongly throughout this journey with them.

Advice for first time photography collectors?

Choose what compels you and you want to live with. I don't think you have to commit to a collecting strategy until you run out of wall space.

Charlotte Cotton Instagram

ICP instagram

Magnum Photos Instagram

The 12 photographers;

Olivia Arthur, Myriam Boulos, Sabiha Çimen, Cristina de Middel, Bieke Depoorter, Carolyn Drake, Nanna Heitmann, Susan Meiselas, Hannah Price, Lua Ribeira, Alessandra Sanguinetti, and Newsha Tavakolian.

About Magnum Photos

Magnum Photos is a cooperative 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.

Cover Visual

Sabiha Çimen, Students playing with a color smoke bomb during a picnic event, from Hafiz, 2017. © Sabiha Çimen / Magnum Photos