Harry Callahan

When Harry Callahan was hired by RISD in 1961 to create a Photography Department, he already had an international reputation. Within 3 years, the program was transformed from a course for 24 graphic arts students to a fully developed department with 100 undergraduate and graduate photography majors. Callahan headed it until 1975 and retired 2 years later. He was honored by major retrospectives at the Museum of Modern Art (1976) and the National Gallery of Art (1994) and received many fellowships and honorary degrees throughout his life, including the National Medal of Art, bestowed by President Clinton in 1996. In memory of this great artist and teacher, who died at age 87 on March 16, 1999, the Museum presents a small selection of both black-and-whtie and color photographs that span his career.