Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985

Our new exhibition explores the turbulent decades of the mid-20th century and features artists who celebrated Black culture and advanced the struggle for civil rights

Learn about the exhibition
A black-and-white photo of a man holding a sign that reads "We Are Tired of Waiting" next to a car covered in protest slogans.

What We Do

  1. Our Locations

    Three people, a woman with long dark hair and a man pushing an elderly woman in a wheelchair, wander through a museum gallery filled with marble sculpture busts.

    Enjoy the art, architecture, and gardens of our two unique sites

  2. Art & Archives

    Two people wander through an art gallery filled with sculptures, pointing to the details in a stone bust

    Our art and research collections span ancient to modern times

  3. Research & Conservation

    A person seated before a large wooden table looks at a black-and-white stereograph of a streetscape through a modern stereoscope, while other stereographs are scattered on the table.

    We conduct and support research and conservation of visual art and cultural heritage in Los Angeles and throughout the world

News & Stories

All News & Stories

  1. Getty's Egyptian Book of the Dead Lives Again

    Press Release

    Ancient Egyptian papyrus featuring columns of hieroglyphics surrounding a central image of a seated pharaoh and human-animal hybrids.

    The exhibition, previously shown in 2023, features Getty's Book of the Dead manuscripts

    Feb 23, 2026

  2. Getty and Japan Pavilion Debut New Performance Project with Ei Arakawa‑Nash and Fac Xtra Retreat (FXR)

    Press Release

    A brightly lit, white, curved building lined with green trees at dusk.

    Collaboration unfolds in Los Angeles at the Getty Center and continues in Venice during the 2026 Biennale opening week

    Feb 24, 2026

  3. “Let Me Get to Work"

    Article

    Black and white photograph of a person wearing a stylish outfit walking past a painted wall with an intricate illustration and the words, "think positive".

    Photographer Coreen Simpson reflects on five decades of documenting Black culture

    Feb 24, 2026

Explore Our Work

All Projects & Initiatives

From Vision to Archive: The Legacy of Paul R. Williams

Bringing the work of this groundbreaking Southern California architect to the broader public

Williams sits behind a table and points something out on a 3D model of a house to another person sitting with his back to the camera.

Resources

All Resources
Explore tools and support for work and study in visual art and cultural heritage