A Sagehen Behind the Lens: Stephen Marc ’76 Nonetheless Pursuing His Greatest Work | Pomona College in Claremont, California

Crisscrossing the United States together with his digital camera in hand, Stephen Marc (Smith) ’76 got down to create the primary complete photographic survey of Americans made by an African American.

For Marc — an completed documentary and avenue photographer, digital montage artist and educator — the challenge’s roots hint again greater than 4 a long time to a pictures class at Pomona College. The survey was bold, however Marc has by no means been one to shrink back from a problem.

“If there is something that you really want to do, don’t believe it when people tell you that you can’t do it,” says Marc, an emeritus professor of pictures within the Herberger Institute’s School of Art at Arizona State University. “Find out why they think you can’t succeed and then do something about it.”

Marc is being honored with the 2026 Blaisdell Distinguished Alumni Award by Pomona’s Alumni Board choice committee. This award acknowledges alumni who carry the spirit of the College past the Gates and display distinctive achievement of their professions or group service.

“It is a real honor because Pomona College had a major impact on my life and career,” Marc says. “Trying to live up to this award will further fuel and reinforce my creative drive, since I am only as good as my next work — and I’m hoping I haven’t created my best work yet.”

Marc developed an curiosity in pictures throughout highschool in Chicago however initially pursued a significant in psychology. His first pictures class at Pomona was taught by Leland Rice, a extremely regarded photographer and curator, who labored as a lecturer. Rice impressed Marc and stays a buddy and mentor. He remembers that Rice didn’t deal with him like a scholar, however as a youthful photographer.

“I was allowed to pursue photography, even though it was my first art class and I was a first semester junior,” Marc says. “But he saw the intensity that I was approaching it with. So, an exception was made to see if I could do it.”

While at Pomona, Marc additionally competed on the Pomona-Pitzer observe staff, incomes nationwide honors within the dash distances. He was an NAIA All-American and five-time NCAA Division III All-American and nonetheless holds an all-time program report within the 110-meter hurdles (14.19), competing as Stephen Smith. A two-time staff MVP, Marc was inducted into the Pomona-Pitzer Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986.

Marc says that competing in observe and subject, mixed with Pomona’s interdisciplinary coursework in artwork historical past, studio artwork, psychology and electives like “Mind, Culture and Sport,” taught by former Pomona-Pitzer coach, Pat Mulcahy ’66, an emeritus professor of bodily training, “greatly impacted how I approached my 46-year career as an educator and ongoing creative practice as a photographic artist.”

Marc’s most up-to-date ebook, revealed in 2023, “Street Cat Tales and Tangled Times: An American Journey Continues,” documents our complicated era in American history.

“Stephen Marc’s work is very important, especially in the context of race, social justice and racism,” says Victoria Sancho Lobis ’23, director of the Benton Museum and affiliate professor of artwork historical past at Pomona College. She commends his landmark challenge, “Passage on the Underground Railroad,” (2005) for which Marc spent over 9 years touring the routes adopted by fugitive slaves, leading to “thought-provoking, unconventional and haunting digital images.”

In 2021, Marc was named a Guggenheim fellow in pictures, recognizing a profession marketed by sustained artistic excellence and cultural impression. His work has been extensively exhibited at main establishments, together with the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Chicago Cultural Center and the Smithsonian Institution.

“Throughout my life, I’ve tried to find things that bring me joy and a sense of purpose,” Marc says. “That’s what has sustained me and still drives my work today.”

Visit our web site to learn extra in regards to the 2026 Pomona College alumni award honorees.