The National Gallery of Art is hosting "Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography," an exhibition that explores the relationship between resource extraction and American photography over nearly 200 years. The exhibit features 150 photographs from more than 100 artists, including notable figures like Richard Avedon, Walker Evans, and Dorothea Lange, as well as contemporary artists such as Edward Burtynsky and Cara Romero.
The exhibition, co-curated by Diane Waggoner and Kristen Gaylord, is the first of its kind to exclusively examine how photographers have captured the significant, often hidden, processes and impacts of mining for minerals, coal, and fossil fuels. It spans from early daguerreotypes of the California Gold Rush to large-scale contemporary works, illustrating how photography, which itself relies on precious metals like silver, has evolved alongside the industrial expansion of mining since the 19th century.
"Beneath the Surface" will be on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., from May 23 to August 23, 2026. Following its run in D.C., the exhibition will travel to the Milwaukee Art Museum, from October 23, 2026, to January 18, 2027, and then to the Amon Carter Museum of American Art from February 15 to May 9, 2027. The exhibit highlights the challenges photographers faced in depicting the colossal scale of extraction and its effects on communities and the environment, utilizing various photographic techniques from landscapes to aerial imagery and photobooks.
Key themes of the exhibition include the visual documentation of industrialization, the often-dangerous working conditions for miners, and the broader societal and environmental costs of resource extraction. The works encompass a range of purposes, from promotional and commercial uses to social documentation and activism, providing a comprehensive look at how photography has shaped public understanding of this foundational American industry.
