Bruce Gilden - Why These? An Appreciation by Brian Byrd
Brian Byrd is a freelance photographer with more than two decades of experience advancing communication as a catalyst for social change. He serves on the board of directors for the Overseas Press Club of America and the advisory board for WITNESS, a global NGO founded by musician Peter Gabriel that uses video and digital technology to document human rights violations.
About Bruce Gilden
Bruce Gilden, born in 1946 in Brooklyn, New York, is a renowned American street photographer celebrated for his candid, close-up images of urban life. Initially studying sociology at Penn State University, Gilden found his true calling in photography after being inspired by Michelangelo Antonioni's film "Blow-Up." He began taking night classes at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, though he is largely self-taught. Wikipedia
Gilden's distinctive style is characterized by his use of flash photography and his practice of getting extremely close to his subjects, often capturing raw and unguarded expressions. His early work focused on the streets of New York City, particularly areas like Coney Island, where he documented the vibrant and diverse street life. Magnum Photos
Over his career, Gilden has expanded his lens to various international subjects, including Japan's Yakuza, rural communities in Ireland, and voodoo rituals in Haiti. His compelling images have been featured in numerous exhibitions worldwide and are part of permanent collections in institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. BruceGilden.com
In recognition of his contributions to photography, Gilden has received several prestigious awards, including multiple National Endowment for the Arts fellowships and a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2013. He became a member of Magnum Photos in 1998, further cementing his status in the photographic community. Magnum Photos
Gilden continues to live and work in New York, persistently capturing the essence of street life with his bold and unflinching approach.
Amber, Kensington, Philadelphia, USA. 2023 © Bruce Gilden
Donna, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. 2014 © Bruce Gilden
Jenna, Iowa state fair, USA. 2017 © Bruce Gilden
An Appreciation: Why These? - Bruce Gilden's Unapologetic Lens on Society
In the heart of New York City, a place that has shaped and been shaped by countless photographers, Fotografiska presented Why These?, a powerful retrospective of Bruce Gilden's work spanning over four decades. This exhibition ran from June through September 2024 and offered an unfiltered glimpse into the world as seen through Gilden's uncompromising lens.
At 77, Gilden remains the enfant terrible of street photography, his spirit and determination as fierce as ever. The exhibition hall pulsates with energy, housing 45 large-format prints personally curated by Gilden himself. "It's my choice!" he declared in a statement that encapsulates the raw authenticity that has defined his career.
Gilden's selection process was driven by a simple yet profound criterion: "I like them, and I think these are among the best photographs I've ever taken in my life." This confidence, born from nearly six decades behind the camera, is evident in every frame on display. “I’ve been photographing for almost 58 years, I know my work, and these are good.”
Coney Island, New York City, USA. 1982 © Bruce Gilden
Ocean City, Maryland, USA, 2021 © Bruce Gilden
The Evolution of Street Photography and Gilden's Place in It
To fully appreciate Gilden's work, it's crucial to understand the evolution of street photography and its significance in the broader context of visual art. Street photography, a genre capturing candid moments of everyday life in public spaces, has been a powerful medium for over a century. Emerging in the mid-19th century with early pioneers like Charles Nègre, the genre truly came into its own in the 20th century. Henri Cartier-Bresson's concept of "the decisive moment" in the 1950s became a guiding principle for street photographers worldwide. The period from the 1930s to 1960s is often considered the golden age of street photography, featuring artists like Walker Evans and Robert Frank who documented American life with raw authenticity. Technological advancements, from portable Leica cameras to modern digital equipment, have continually shaped the genre's evolution.
Throughout its history, street photography has served as a vital tool for capturing candid moments of everyday life, revealing the beauty, complexity, and sometimes harsh realities of urban existence. Street photography became a powerful tool for social commentary, historical documentation, and artistic expression.
Enter Bruce Gilden, a photographer who has been challenging conventions and reshaping the genre since the late 1960s. Known for his confrontational style and use of flash, Gilden has become one of the most influential—and controversial—figures in contemporary street photography. Gilden brought a unique and controversial approach to this established genre. While many street photographers aimed for a detached, observational style, Gilden chose conflict. His in-your-face approach, characterized by close-up shots and the liberal use of flash, pushed the boundaries of what was considered acceptable in street photography.
Gilden's work represents a significant shift in the genre. He eschews the notion of the invisible photographer, instead making his presence an integral part of the photographic moment. This approach has sparked debates about ethics in street photography and the relationship between photographer and subject.
Despite – or perhaps because of – the controversy, Gilden's influence on contemporary street photography is undeniable. He has inspired a generation of photographers to be bolder, to get closer, and to engage more directly with their subjects. His work challenges viewers to confront aspects of society they might prefer to ignore, forcing a dialogue about class, beauty standards, and the human condition.
The importance of street photography, and by extension Gilden's work, lies in its ability to create a visual record of our times. It captures the zeitgeist of urban life, preserving fleeting moments that might otherwise be lost to history. In an era of carefully curated social media images, street photography like Gilden's offers a raw, unfiltered view of reality.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti. 1990 © Bruce Gilden
Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. 1998 © Bruce Gilden
The Exhibition: A Journey Through Gilden's Career
The exhibition takes visitors on a visual odyssey through Gilden's career, showcasing 20 candid and often iconic images from his major projects in Coney Island, Haiti, New York, and Tokyo. These vintage "classics" serve as a foundation, contextualizing Gilden's evolution as an artist.
But it's the transition to Gilden's contemporary work that truly electrifies. Since embracing digital color photography in 2014, Gilden has added a new dimension to his inimitable style. The exhibition unveiled 25 striking color portraits, many of which have never been exhibited before. These large-scale prints, some fresh from last year, reveal the full impact of Gilden's portraiture. Each face tells a story, revealing lives lived on the fringes of society, forcing viewers to confront humanity in all its flawed, imperfect, and oddly beautiful glory.
"I want people to see my best photographs," Gilden insists, and "Why These?" delivers on that promise. The careful mix of black and white and color works reflects not only the changing times but also the changes in Gilden himself. It's a testament to an artist who has never stopped evolving yet has always remained true to his vision. As visitors move through the exhibition, they're not just observing photographs; they're experiencing New York, Tokyo, Haiti, and beyond through Gilden's eyes. The grit, the tension, the humanity – it's all there, larger than life and impossible to ignore.
Bonnie, Columbus, Ohio, USA. 2014 © Bruce Gilden
Lefty Louie, New York City, USA. 1986 © Bruce Gilden
The Significance of Why These?
This exhibition is more than a collection of photographs; it's a statement about Gilden's career and his impact on street photography. By juxtaposing his earlier black-and-white work with recent color portraits, Why These? illustrates both Gilden's consistency of vision and his willingness to evolve. The work challenges viewers to confront aspects of society they might prefer to ignore, forcing a dialogue about class, beauty standards, and the human condition. In an era of carefully curated social media images, his raw, unfiltered view of reality becomes even more poignant.
The exhibit is traveling to Fotografiska's locations in Tallinn and Stockholm.
