Weegee Unveiled: An Immersive Journey into the Society of the Spectacle

This event is complimentary with museum entry.

Join the museum educator from ICP for a guided stroll through the exhibition Weegee: Society of the Spectacle. 

About the Exhibition

The journey of photographer Weegee (originally Arthur Fellig, 1899-1968) is frequently segmented into two unique segments, one rugged, the other elegant. Renowned for his sensational images of crime scenes, fires, automobile accidents, and the spectators who observed these distressing occurrences throughout New York City in the 1930s and ‘40s, Weegee also dedicated a portion of his career to portraying the jubilant crowds, premieres, and stars of Hollywood. His documentary photography on both coasts eventually transitioned to experimental portraits later in his life, which were altered using a kaleidoscope and various techniques from his arsenal. Weegee: Society of the Spectacle seeks to unify these two facets of Weegee by exploring his emphasis, throughout his career, on critiquing 20th-century popular culture and its relentless craving for spectacle. 

Weegee: Society of the Spectacle is curated by Clément Chéroux, the Director of the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson (FHCB), Paris, in collaboration with the Weegee Archive at the International Center of Photography (ICP), New York.

Program Format/Accessibility Information 

This is a gallery walking tour; no seating accommodations are available. For inquiries or requests regarding accessibility, please email programs@icp.org. 

Image: Weegee, [Afternoon crowd at Coney Island, Brooklyn], July 21, 1940, International Center of Photography. Bequest of Wilma Wilcox, 1993 (2380.1993) © International Center of Photography/Getty Images