GALLERY

This collection of daguerreotypes and ambrotypes was assembled over the course of 4 decades. It addresses race in a novel way. Many of these images defy categorization as to racial identity and that is the point. This collection is ahead of the curve in its vision, and yet it reflects the realities of 21st century American multicultural life.

We believe that The Multicultural Collection of Daguerreotypes and Ambrotypes will provoke discussion. What race is this individual? Could this subject be biracial? Why is this image included? What is race? What is ethnicity? Is multiculturalism synonymous with diversity? These are some of the questions we anticipate from the viewer.

This collection offers something new from old images. It expands our knowledge base of mid 19th century American everyday portraiture, while asking questions about the composition of American society today.

Greg French has lent images, and in some cases been a consultant, to The National Gallery of Art, the National Portrait Gallery, Library of Congress, National Museum of African American History and Culture, The Nelson Atkins Museum, The Wadsworth Athenaeum Museum of Art, The Getty Museum, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, The Mirror of Race Project, Ken Burns, PBS, and many others.