Arlene Gottfried: The Soulful Lens That Defined New York’s Heartbeat

Sometimes likened to Diane Arbus, the New York-based photographer Arlene Gottfried possessed a talent for capturing images that, while perhaps not as deliberately defiant as Arbus’s, still present an unsettling and astonishing quality. One iconic photograph was taken at Riis Beach (also known as “the People’s Beach”) in Queens, featuring a Hasidic Jew in traditional attire standing beside a naked, flexing bodybuilder artfully posed to conceal his genitals. Gottfried found irresistible the contrast between the two markedly distinct men – both Jewish – who represented a slice of humanity at the beach that day.

This is the vibe that Gottfried embodies – her artistry draws you in, yet simultaneously makes you feel a bit bashful for observing. The New York Historical Society is currently showcasing approximately 30 of Gottfried’s photographs, providing an opportunity to delve into the work of an unparalleled artist who captures a distinct perspective of New York. Titled Picture Stories, the exhibition utilizes around 300 prints of Gottfried’s that reside in the institution’s collections, offering an exceptional and invaluable view of one of New York’s top photographers.

Despite receiving formal education in photography at the Fashion Institute of Technology and having worked professionally as a photographer, Gottfried was a true pioneer, exploring neighborhoods that many would avoid, capturing images that few could produce. “Many photographers pursue the glamor,” noted the exhibition curator Marilyn Kushner, “and while she did indulge in that a little, she primarily dwelled on the streets.”

Gottfried was prolific, leaving behind around 15,000 photographs upon her passing from breast cancer in 2017. She authored five books during her lifetime and had widespread exhibitions, regularly publishing her work in platforms like the Village Voice and the New York Times. Although she was not affiliated with either community, Gottfried deeply engaged with the LGBTQ+ and Black populations; she was also referred to as “the Singing Photographer” after she trained as a gospel vocalist and joined the choir Eternal Light, which she photographed extensively.

Through each photograph, Gottfried’s work conveys a sensation of being in the midst of something significant. There is frequently a sense of intruding on someone else’s personal space, as well as being present at a “you won’t believe what I just witnessed” occurrence. A prime example from Picture Stories is an image of the infamous Rick James in his full regalia, striking a bold pose and turning his head towards two elegant women in furs who appear startled by the encounter. It’s quintessential Gottfried – a blend of absurdity, intimacy, psychological insight, urban essence, and teetering on the brink of explosion.

Gottfried possessed a unique talent for seizing such moments, an apparent ease in finding herself in scenarios that the average person might encounter merely a few times, if at all. Kushner attributes Gottfried’s gift for capturing one extraordinary image after another to her character, which had the ability to endear her to almost anyone. “She was drawn to her own kind of people,” Kushner explained, “and she had a formidable talent to make individuals open up to her.”

This is undoubtedly partly due to her upbringing in an animated family, which included her younger brother, the lively comedian Gilbert Gottfried. Gottfried exhibited remarkable vitality, with an almost inexhaustible zest for life – her close friend Midnight once reflected: “Arlene possessed a Rolodex filled with friends, and invitations every evening.” Kushner supported this sentiment: “Her energy was close to overwhelming. It was an inner intensity that manifested in the way she conducted her life and the individuals she captured.”

This intensity is clearly visible in the numerous videos available on YouTube of Gottfried performing gospel music. In one, she delivers a powerful performance for an audience in Central Park, entirely captured by the flowing sounds, swaying to her own beat, joyfully lost in her ecstatic realm. She could infuse that energy into her photographic subjects, allowing them to become momentarily engrossed in their own fervor and express it just long enough for Gottfried to immortalize it on film.

Gottfried’s extraordinary energy also originated from her childhood in 1950s-era Coney Island, where she was exposed to a bizarre variety of humanity merely by strolling through her neighborhood. Reflecting those formative experiences, Gottfried’s photographic collection embodies a circus-like ambiance – the prints in Picture Stories vary from a cinematic shot of a group of young men in Harlem standing atop an upturned car, to a fire-eater in only briefs devouring a flame in a men’s restroom, two individuals intertwined and kissing in a field adjacent to the highway, and an intimate self-portrait of her and Midnight, a friend with schizophrenia whom she met in the 80s, ultimately taking enough photos over two decades to fill an entire volume.

Quiet moments also appear in Picture Stories, such as an image of actress Ann Magnuson seated in a stairwell gazing into the distance, and a poignant capture of a little girl named Monet, wide-eyed, face full of anticipation, awkwardly holding onto a doll. Tragically, Gottfried took the last photographs of that little girl – just a week later she was tragically murdered by her mother’s companion (Gottfried also documented the girl’s funeral). The girl’s mother, Monique, became a deeply significant presence in Gottfried’s life – connections like that one or her friendship/romantic involvement with her long-time subject Midnight demonstrate just how much of herself Gottfried invested in her artistry.

Picture Stories serves as a charming introduction to Gottfried’s artistry, and it is hoped that it will encourage many to explore her photographs further. Kushner aspires for it to also serve as a gateway to getting to know a truly extraordinary individual. “I’m thrilled to bring her work here and showcase those facets of New York that captivated her,” shared Kushner. “I want people to come and discover the essence of a photographer, to comprehend her identity. I want them to notice the beauty she uncovered in places where beauty is often overlooked.”