NEWS, EXHIBITIONS, PUBLICATIONS
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LEONIAN PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE INCLUDED IN BROOKLYN MUSEUM EXHIBITION
July 2026 Robert Wiesenberger, recently appointed as the Brooklyn Museum's John and Barbara Vogelstein Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, has selected four prints by Phillip Leonian to include in his first show, which will be an installation of recent acquisitions. The show opens in Spring 2027 in the 4th floor galleries. |
WATERWORKS IMAGES WILL BE INCLUDED IN FLORIDA EXHIBITION
June 2026
Two images from Phillip Leonian's Polaroid Waterworks series will be included in EXPOSURE: 25 Years of FMoPA, Highlights from the Permanent Collection of the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, in Tampa, Florida. The exhibition places an emphasis on recent gifts that have not yet been exhibited, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience these works for the first time. July 23 - December 6, 2026.
June 2026
Two images from Phillip Leonian's Polaroid Waterworks series will be included in EXPOSURE: 25 Years of FMoPA, Highlights from the Permanent Collection of the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, in Tampa, Florida. The exhibition places an emphasis on recent gifts that have not yet been exhibited, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience these works for the first time. July 23 - December 6, 2026.
CATHY RIGBY ON THE BALANCE BEAM WILL BE INCLUDED IN MONTREAL EXHIBITION
June 2026
Phillip Leonian's image of Cathy Rigby on the balance beam, which was included in the Voyager Golden Record in 1977, will be exhibited at the Planétarium de Montréal, in a show which aims to retrace the creation of NASA's Voyager Golden Record. The exhibition will open in December 2026.
Planétarium de Montréal is a prominent educational and scientific institution, part of "Espace pour la vie," Canada's largest natural science museum complex. It is dedicated to promoting astronomy and space sciences to the public through immersive exhibitions and programs.
June 2026
Phillip Leonian's image of Cathy Rigby on the balance beam, which was included in the Voyager Golden Record in 1977, will be exhibited at the Planétarium de Montréal, in a show which aims to retrace the creation of NASA's Voyager Golden Record. The exhibition will open in December 2026.
Planétarium de Montréal is a prominent educational and scientific institution, part of "Espace pour la vie," Canada's largest natural science museum complex. It is dedicated to promoting astronomy and space sciences to the public through immersive exhibitions and programs.
PHIL SHOOTS EDITH WILL APPEAR IN BOOK PUBLISHED BY GEORGE EASTMAN MUSEUM
May 2026
"Phil Shoots Edith," from Phil's Mini Cini series, will be included in a book to be published this coming November 2026 by the George Eastman Museum. Written by curator Phil Taylor, the book's title The Art of Comic Trouble sounds fascinating, to say the least!
May 2026
"Phil Shoots Edith," from Phil's Mini Cini series, will be included in a book to be published this coming November 2026 by the George Eastman Museum. Written by curator Phil Taylor, the book's title The Art of Comic Trouble sounds fascinating, to say the least!
MAN IN MOTION: THE LIFE AND WORK OF PHILLIP LEONIAN IS NOW AVAILABLE!
February 2026
The Leonian Charitable Trust is giving copies of this book to museums and photography-related 501(c)(3) organizations. Click here to request a copy of Man in Motion for your organization.
If you would like to purchase the book, click here.
ADVANCE COPIES OF MAN IN MOTION HAVE BEEN RECEIVED!
January 2026
An homage to both Phillip and Edith Leonian, the book is a labor of love that contains contributions from curators Kristen Gresh, Marvin Heiferman, and Anne Wilkes Tucker, gallerist Howard Greenberg, and Judith Lane, the Leonians' longtime employee and steward of their legacy. It places Phil soundly within the canon of motion photography, and it gives insight into the Leonians' lives as dedicated partners, generous mentors, and whip-smart experts who were deeply involved with the photography world and the people in it.
January 2026
An homage to both Phillip and Edith Leonian, the book is a labor of love that contains contributions from curators Kristen Gresh, Marvin Heiferman, and Anne Wilkes Tucker, gallerist Howard Greenberg, and Judith Lane, the Leonians' longtime employee and steward of their legacy. It places Phil soundly within the canon of motion photography, and it gives insight into the Leonians' lives as dedicated partners, generous mentors, and whip-smart experts who were deeply involved with the photography world and the people in it.
THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER ACQUIRES WORK FROM PHILLIP LEONIAN COLLECTION
January 2026
The Muhammad Ali Center has acquired eight inkjet prints from the Phillip Leonian collection. All photos were taken during Phil's 1968 photo shoot with the champion boxer; several were taken using Phil's custom-built Cherry Bomb camera, which allowed Phil to take ultra-long images of Ali in motion, unbroken by frames.
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ACQUIRES 300+ PIECES FROM PHILLIP LEONIAN COLLECTION
January 2026
The Library of Congress has acquired over 300 pieces from the Phillip Leonian collection, including prints, contact sheets, mounted transparencies, posters, magazines, ephemera, and much, much more!
January 2026
The Library of Congress has acquired over 300 pieces from the Phillip Leonian collection, including prints, contact sheets, mounted transparencies, posters, magazines, ephemera, and much, much more!
THE GEORGE EASTMAN MUSEUM ACQUIRES PIECES FROM PHILLIP LEONIAN COLLECTION
October 2025
The George Eastman Museum has acquired 20 photographs from the Phillip Leonian collection, ranging from Phillip's Transcendentals, Turns, and Walking series, and several examples of his sports photography. Additionally, the Eastman Museum has acquired eight pieces of equipment used by Phillip Leonian, including his Rolleiflex, Pentax K with a fish-lens, and Hasselblad EL with 80mm lens.
October 2025
The George Eastman Museum has acquired 20 photographs from the Phillip Leonian collection, ranging from Phillip's Transcendentals, Turns, and Walking series, and several examples of his sports photography. Additionally, the Eastman Museum has acquired eight pieces of equipment used by Phillip Leonian, including his Rolleiflex, Pentax K with a fish-lens, and Hasselblad EL with 80mm lens.
THE POSTER HOUSE ACQUIRES PIECES FROM PHILLIP LEONIAN COLLECTION
September 2025
The Poster House has acquired 11 posters from the Phillip Leonian collection! The acquisition includes five large subway posters from the New York Racing Association's Big A campaign, two from Alka-Seltzer's "Plop Plop, Fizz Fizz" campaign, and one each featuring the 1979 U.S. Speed Skating Team, a duo roller blading for Wrangler, a stroboscopic tennis swing for Racquet magazine, and one small subway poster featuring a ballerina for the Newsweek music section.
September 2025
The Poster House has acquired 11 posters from the Phillip Leonian collection! The acquisition includes five large subway posters from the New York Racing Association's Big A campaign, two from Alka-Seltzer's "Plop Plop, Fizz Fizz" campaign, and one each featuring the 1979 U.S. Speed Skating Team, a duo roller blading for Wrangler, a stroboscopic tennis swing for Racquet magazine, and one small subway poster featuring a ballerina for the Newsweek music section.
NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM ACQUIRES PIECES FROM PHILLIP LEONIAN COLLECTION
July 2025
New York Transit Museum is now home to several NYC subway posters exhibiting Phillip Leonian's photography, including five 45x60" posters from the New York Racing Association's Big A campaign, each depicting horses in motion.
July 2025
New York Transit Museum is now home to several NYC subway posters exhibiting Phillip Leonian's photography, including five 45x60" posters from the New York Racing Association's Big A campaign, each depicting horses in motion.
THREE ORGANIZATIONS ACQUIRE WORK BY PHILLIP LEONIAN
July 2025
High Museum of Art has acquired 10 works by Phillip Leonian, including four from his Mini Cine series, four from his Walking series, and two Waterworks. The Waterworks series was created by photographing the bodies of peers, friends, and family in sections using a Polaroid camera, then floating the emulsions off their backing by dissolving the binder, and finally combining several pictures on a single sheet of photo paper, matching and overlapping until he came up with a full-length portrait.
Museum of the City of New York has acquired 39 pieces from the Phillip Leonian photography archives.
The selection spans the majority of his photography career from 1956-1981 and includes both vintage darkroom prints and lifetime inkjet prints. Among the highlights are early medical and editorial photography of visitors to the Bowery Welfare Shelter; Coney Island beach scenes; samples from Phillip's week-long photo shoot with Muhammad Ali, taken in Leonian's 23rd Street studio; and two unique photomontages of Wall Street that were done as potential cover images for an issue of Newsweek.
New York Public Library has also expanded its photography collection, acquiring 28 pieces by Phillip Leonian as well as 42 by Edith Leonian. Included in this acquisition are ten of Phillip's sports photographs; two portraits of NYAM Medical Librarian Gertrude Annan; a photograph of gallerist Lee Witkin; several works from his Walking series; four images taken at the 1973 "Women Choose Women" exhibition at the NY Cultural Center; and two portraits of Cornell Capa in his office at the International Center of Photography.
Edith's 42 portraits of influential figures in the photography-world were shot for her article, "Art & Money: Selling Out is Hard to Do," published in the 1978 issue of Photography Annual.
July 2025
High Museum of Art has acquired 10 works by Phillip Leonian, including four from his Mini Cine series, four from his Walking series, and two Waterworks. The Waterworks series was created by photographing the bodies of peers, friends, and family in sections using a Polaroid camera, then floating the emulsions off their backing by dissolving the binder, and finally combining several pictures on a single sheet of photo paper, matching and overlapping until he came up with a full-length portrait.
Museum of the City of New York has acquired 39 pieces from the Phillip Leonian photography archives.
The selection spans the majority of his photography career from 1956-1981 and includes both vintage darkroom prints and lifetime inkjet prints. Among the highlights are early medical and editorial photography of visitors to the Bowery Welfare Shelter; Coney Island beach scenes; samples from Phillip's week-long photo shoot with Muhammad Ali, taken in Leonian's 23rd Street studio; and two unique photomontages of Wall Street that were done as potential cover images for an issue of Newsweek.
New York Public Library has also expanded its photography collection, acquiring 28 pieces by Phillip Leonian as well as 42 by Edith Leonian. Included in this acquisition are ten of Phillip's sports photographs; two portraits of NYAM Medical Librarian Gertrude Annan; a photograph of gallerist Lee Witkin; several works from his Walking series; four images taken at the 1973 "Women Choose Women" exhibition at the NY Cultural Center; and two portraits of Cornell Capa in his office at the International Center of Photography.
Edith's 42 portraits of influential figures in the photography-world were shot for her article, "Art & Money: Selling Out is Hard to Do," published in the 1978 issue of Photography Annual.
PORTLAND MUSEUM OF ART ACQUIRES TWENTY-FIVE PIECES FROM PHILLIP LEONIAN COLLECTION
June 2025
Portland Museum of Art is now home to several pieces depicting Phil's expert use of motion photography, including several from the Mini Cine, Walking, and Turns series, a print from the Transcendental series, as well as three estate prints from Phil's 1968 shoot with the "King" himself, Muhammad Ali.
June 2025
Portland Museum of Art is now home to several pieces depicting Phil's expert use of motion photography, including several from the Mini Cine, Walking, and Turns series, a print from the Transcendental series, as well as three estate prints from Phil's 1968 shoot with the "King" himself, Muhammad Ali.
LEONIAN ARCHIVE WILL BECOME PART OF THE DOLPH BRISCOE CENTER FOR AMERICAN HISTORY
May 2025
The Leonian Charitable Trust (custodian of the Phillip Leonian Archive) is thrilled to announce that the Archive has found a permanent home at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History! The archive will be gifted to the Briscoe Center in December of this year.
The Briscoe Center is one of the nation’s leading research centers for historical study. The center’s archives, libraries, museums, and historic buildings are part of The University of Texas at Austin’s commitment to collecting, preserving, and making available the evidence of the past. The Briscoe Center actively promotes the university’s teaching and research mission through classes and seminars, academic fellowships, faculty collaborations, and student internships.
As part of the Briscoe Center, the Leonian Archive, which consists of vintage prints, negatives, slides, transparencies, posters, magazines, notebooks, career documentation and ephemera, will be permanently accessible for public research and exhibition loans.
May 2025
The Leonian Charitable Trust (custodian of the Phillip Leonian Archive) is thrilled to announce that the Archive has found a permanent home at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History! The archive will be gifted to the Briscoe Center in December of this year.
The Briscoe Center is one of the nation’s leading research centers for historical study. The center’s archives, libraries, museums, and historic buildings are part of The University of Texas at Austin’s commitment to collecting, preserving, and making available the evidence of the past. The Briscoe Center actively promotes the university’s teaching and research mission through classes and seminars, academic fellowships, faculty collaborations, and student internships.
As part of the Briscoe Center, the Leonian Archive, which consists of vintage prints, negatives, slides, transparencies, posters, magazines, notebooks, career documentation and ephemera, will be permanently accessible for public research and exhibition loans.
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART ACQUIRES FOURTEEN PIECES FROM PHILLIP LEONIAN COLLECTION
May 2025
The National Gallery of Art has acquired 14 pieces from the Phillip Leonian photography archives. The selection consists of eight prints from the Walking series, three from Turns, and three unique photomontage pieces, including two from Phillip's Worlds series and one from the series Zero Positive.
In an unfinished manuscript, Phil offered some insight into the Zero Positive series:
"Equal portions of positive and negative versions of the same image are added together. Basic research with simple silhouettes demonstrates a checkerboard reversal of position between black and white. The edges are maintained at the expense of tonal discrimination as in other processes combining positive and negative images (e.g. bas relief, fine line derivation.) The pure black and white images indicate potential value which cannot be assed until the discipline of a standard photographic form is applied."
May 2025
The National Gallery of Art has acquired 14 pieces from the Phillip Leonian photography archives. The selection consists of eight prints from the Walking series, three from Turns, and three unique photomontage pieces, including two from Phillip's Worlds series and one from the series Zero Positive.
In an unfinished manuscript, Phil offered some insight into the Zero Positive series:
"Equal portions of positive and negative versions of the same image are added together. Basic research with simple silhouettes demonstrates a checkerboard reversal of position between black and white. The edges are maintained at the expense of tonal discrimination as in other processes combining positive and negative images (e.g. bas relief, fine line derivation.) The pure black and white images indicate potential value which cannot be assed until the discipline of a standard photographic form is applied."
BROOKLYN MUSEUM ACQUIRES LARGE SELECTION OF PHILLIP LEONIAN WORK
February 2025
The Brooklyn Museum has acquired 86 pieces from the Phillip Leonian Archive.
This acquisition features 84 works that showcase Phillip Leonian's range and versatility as a photographer. It includes selections from Phillip's Walking, Turns, Mini Cine, and Transcendentals series, as well as a large selection of sports images, and a four unique pieces from his Waterworks and Zero Positive series.
Additionally, two early prints by Edith Leonian were also included in the acquisition. One was taken on the Coney Island set of the silent film The Panto Players, the other was taken on the Brooklyn Bridge as an assignment for an Alexey Brodovitch class in which Edith was at the time enrolled.
February 2025
The Brooklyn Museum has acquired 86 pieces from the Phillip Leonian Archive.
This acquisition features 84 works that showcase Phillip Leonian's range and versatility as a photographer. It includes selections from Phillip's Walking, Turns, Mini Cine, and Transcendentals series, as well as a large selection of sports images, and a four unique pieces from his Waterworks and Zero Positive series.
Additionally, two early prints by Edith Leonian were also included in the acquisition. One was taken on the Coney Island set of the silent film The Panto Players, the other was taken on the Brooklyn Bridge as an assignment for an Alexey Brodovitch class in which Edith was at the time enrolled.
MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON ACQUIRES 15 WORKS BY PHILLIP LEONIAN
January 2025
The Museum of Fine Arts Boston has acquired 15 pieces by Phillip Leonian, spanning five different series: Walking, Sports, Worlds, Mini Cine, and Transcendentals.
January 2025
The Museum of Fine Arts Boston has acquired 15 pieces by Phillip Leonian, spanning five different series: Walking, Sports, Worlds, Mini Cine, and Transcendentals.
PHILLIP LEONIAN PHOTOGRAPH INCLUDED IN PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART EXHIBITION
January 2025
We are excited to announce that the Phillip Leonian photograph, Cathy Rigby on Balance Beam, has been included in the current exhibition, Staged: Studio Photographs from the Collection.
On view January 18–June 29, 2025, the exhibition "brings together photographs from the nineteenth century through the present day, exploring ways that photographers—and sometimes their subjects—have worked and played within the confines of the studio."
Phillip's photograph of Cathy Rigby is displayed next to another stroboscopic photograph, Moving Skip Rope by Harold Edgerton. This juxtaposition places two of the twentieth century's most scientific photographic minds in conversation.
January 2025
We are excited to announce that the Phillip Leonian photograph, Cathy Rigby on Balance Beam, has been included in the current exhibition, Staged: Studio Photographs from the Collection.
On view January 18–June 29, 2025, the exhibition "brings together photographs from the nineteenth century through the present day, exploring ways that photographers—and sometimes their subjects—have worked and played within the confines of the studio."
Phillip's photograph of Cathy Rigby is displayed next to another stroboscopic photograph, Moving Skip Rope by Harold Edgerton. This juxtaposition places two of the twentieth century's most scientific photographic minds in conversation.
PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART ACQUIRES PHILLIP LEONIAN WORK
January 2025
Happy New Year! With the start of a the new year, we would like to announce another exciting acquisition: The Philadelphia Museum of Art has acquired 23 pieces of Phillip Leonian's work.
The acquisition consists of several photographs from the Walking series, 13 sports photographs (including c-prints of both Muhammad Ali as King and Cathy Rigby on the Balance Beam), a constructed photograph from Phillip's Worlds series, and a dream-like photograph from the Transcendental series.
Stay tuned for more announcements this year!
January 2025
Happy New Year! With the start of a the new year, we would like to announce another exciting acquisition: The Philadelphia Museum of Art has acquired 23 pieces of Phillip Leonian's work.
The acquisition consists of several photographs from the Walking series, 13 sports photographs (including c-prints of both Muhammad Ali as King and Cathy Rigby on the Balance Beam), a constructed photograph from Phillip's Worlds series, and a dream-like photograph from the Transcendental series.
Stay tuned for more announcements this year!
LEONIAN ACQUISITIONS AT MAJOR MUSEUMS
October 2024
The Phillip Leonian Archive has been a flurry of excitement for the last few months. In addition to the Briscoe Center's acquisition of the Archive (taking place in summer 2025), various museums have already acquired several pieces by Phillip Leonian.
We are excited to announce:
Amon Carter Museum of American Art has acquired three of Phillip's prints for their collection, including a c-print from the Walking series titled, Is Someone Kidding the College Girl, that accompanied an article of the same name in the January 11, 1966 issue of LOOK magazine.
Cleveland Museum of Art now has in its collection eight pieces by Phillip, including four inkjet prints of Muhammad Ali and four gelatin silver prints, three of which feature the various ways Phillip captured motion in a single frame.
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts has acquired three pieces from Phillip's Waterworks series that will be part of an exhibition scheduled for the end of 2025.
Milwaukee Art Museum has acquired two pieces, including a print of the cover image for Harold Edgerton's Electronic Flash, Strobe (McGraw-Hill, 1970), featuring a stroboscopic photograph of two fencers demonstrating use of the épée.
The Morgan Library and Museum now has six pieces by Phillip Leonian in its collection, including several from the Walking series, one from the related Turns series, and two photomontage creations, all of which exemplify Phil's life-long interest in capturing both space and time.
Keep your eye out for more exciting acquisitions announcements in the coming months!
October 2024
The Phillip Leonian Archive has been a flurry of excitement for the last few months. In addition to the Briscoe Center's acquisition of the Archive (taking place in summer 2025), various museums have already acquired several pieces by Phillip Leonian.
We are excited to announce:
Amon Carter Museum of American Art has acquired three of Phillip's prints for their collection, including a c-print from the Walking series titled, Is Someone Kidding the College Girl, that accompanied an article of the same name in the January 11, 1966 issue of LOOK magazine.
Cleveland Museum of Art now has in its collection eight pieces by Phillip, including four inkjet prints of Muhammad Ali and four gelatin silver prints, three of which feature the various ways Phillip captured motion in a single frame.
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts has acquired three pieces from Phillip's Waterworks series that will be part of an exhibition scheduled for the end of 2025.
Milwaukee Art Museum has acquired two pieces, including a print of the cover image for Harold Edgerton's Electronic Flash, Strobe (McGraw-Hill, 1970), featuring a stroboscopic photograph of two fencers demonstrating use of the épée.
The Morgan Library and Museum now has six pieces by Phillip Leonian in its collection, including several from the Walking series, one from the related Turns series, and two photomontage creations, all of which exemplify Phil's life-long interest in capturing both space and time.
Keep your eye out for more exciting acquisitions announcements in the coming months!
EXCITING NEWS
August 2024
The Phillip Leonian Archive will become part of the Briscoe Center for American History in July 2025.
The Leonian Charitable Trust (custodian of the Phillip Leonian Archive) is thrilled to announce that the Archive has found a permanent home at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History!
The Briscoe Center is one of the nation’s leading research centers for historical study. The center’s archives, libraries, museums, and historic buildings are part of The University of Texas at Austin’s commitment to collecting, preserving, and making available the evidence of the past. The Briscoe Center actively promotes the university’s teaching and research mission through classes and seminars, academic fellowships, faculty collaborations, and student internships.
As part of the Briscoe Center, the Phillip Leonian Archive--consisting of prints, negatives, slides, transparencies, posters, magazines, notebooks, career documentation and ephemera--will be permanently accessible for public research and exhibition loans.
Martha Edelheit: Naked City, Paintings from 1965–1980. New York, NY: Eric Firestone Press, 2023.
Phillip Leonian photographs featured in new publication
October 2023
Three of Phillip Leonian's photographs of feminist artist, Martha Edelheit, appear in Martha Edelheit: Naked City, Paintings from 1965–1980, published for the artist's exhibition at the Eric Firestone Gallery, January 25 - March 18, 2023.
Cathy Rigby © 1977 Phillip Leonian
BBC's Outlook Podcast:
Olympic Gymnast and Representative of Life on Earth
December 2022
Click here to listen to the December 21, 2022 episode of the BBC podcast, Outlook, in which Cathy Rigby discusses her life as an Olympic gymnast battling an eating disorder, her time as Broadway star, and, oh yeah, that time Phil took this iconic photo of her on the balance beam!
Presented by Mobeen Azhar; Produced by Patrick Kiteley
Presented by Mobeen Azhar; Produced by Patrick Kiteley
Cathy Rigby © 1977 Phillip Leonian
Anderson Cooper's CBS 60 Minutes Interview:
"The Little Spacecraft That Could"
November 19, 2017
The Voyager mission was only supposed to last four years. But four decades after the launch of Voyager 1 and 2, the spacecraft are still sending back messages from beyond the most distant planets in our solar system.