Celebrated NJ Photographer Passes Away at 86: A Tribute to a Life Behind the Lens

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Three-minute read

MIDDLETOWN — George A. Tice, the informal “photographer laureate” of New Jersey, known for his black-and-white photographs that often depicted the raw, almost eerie urban scenery of his native state, passed away on Thursday.

Tice, aged 86, published 24 photography books and earned multiple accolades for his work, including Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships and a lifetime achievement honor from the Lucie Foundation, which recognizes excellence in photography.

His artworks can be found in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and over 150 collections globally, as mentioned in his obituary. In 2003, he received an honorary doctorate from William Paterson University.

“He never retired,” his obituary reveals. “Photography was his existence, and his extensive portfolio will continue to fascinate audiences for generations to follow.”

In a 1996 conversation with View Camera magazine, Tice characterized his work as “documenting the place,” echoing the style of Walker Evans, the photojournalist from the Depression era.

“The majority of my images are from New Jersey,” he stated. “It might have been a topic series, like ice or aquatic plants, that could have been set anywhere, but it was completed in New Jersey.” 

Tice originated from Newark in 1938, yet lived somewhat of a nomadic lifestyle with his mother, part of an Irish Traveller community, he shared with New Jersey Monthly magazine in 2014. In later years, he chose to reside in Middletown.

“We would migrate north in the summer and south in the winter — home was wherever we camped,” he noted in the introduction to his 1982 book “Urban Romantic,” as quoted by the magazine. “When we were not traveling, New Jersey was home.”

Tice began his photography journey at the age of 14 but pursued it as a profession following his service in the U.S. Navy. By the 1970s, he was showcasing his work in New York galleries and undertaking assignments for Life magazine.

Peter Bunnell, a photography historian and former director of the Princeton University Art Museum, described Tice as the “photographer laureate of New Jersey,” according to the New York Times.

Though Tice traveled extensively capturing images worldwide, he is renowned for his depiction of landscapes and architecture throughout the Garden State. He authored several books and organized various exhibitions showcasing photos of Paterson. Notably, two of his most recognized photographs centered on a White Castle restaurant on Route 1 in Rahway and a gas station in Cherry Hill.

A collection of his photographs served as scenic backdrops for the 2005 jukebox musical “Jersey Boys,” which revolves around Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Additionally, in 2007, he released Ticetown, featuring images of his ancestral origins in Monmouth County, knowledge of which he uncovered only after extensive genealogical exploration.

”A location belongs to those who claim it,” Tice expressed to the New York Times in 2002. ”Nobody truly claimed New Jersey as their own, and I made it my own.”

In an Instagram post, award-winning photographer William Abranowicz, a New Jersey native, praised Tice for instructing him “about the art of imagery, the beauty in the ordinary, mastering black-and-white printing, creating an image, and the endurance required as an artist.

“He was quintessentially Jersey tough love. A remarkable artist, a formidable individual,” Abranowicz remarked. “He represented New Jersey on an international platform.”

Tice leaves behind five children, nine grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren, along with two brothers.

Mike Davis has dedicated the last decade to covering local news in New Jersey, marijuana legalization, transportation, and various other topics. He has earned several awards, which have made his parents extremely proud. He can be reached at mdavis@gannettnj.com or @byMikeDavis on Twitter.