Exhibitions
Exhibitions
The Alice Austen House is a living, breathing photographic museum. In addition to the permanent exhibition exploring the life and photographic legacy of Alice Austen we curate three changing contemporary exhibitions per year. These changing exhibitions explore essential intersections between Austen’s work and contemporary themes in art and journalistic photography.
Current
Exhibitions
THIS EXHIBITION IS SUPPORTED BY the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, Richmond County Savings Foundation, Ruth Foundation For the Arts, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Picturing the Water: The Work of Alice Austen at the Noble Maritime Collection
On View May 18, 2023
The Alice Austen House and the Noble Maritime Collection present a collection of never-before-seen nautical photographs of one of America’s earliest and most prolific female photographers. Living and working on Staten Island during the Gilded Age, Alice Austen (1866–1952) was one of the first women photographers to work outside the confines of a studio, employing a visionary documentary style that was ahead of its time. Picturing the Water explores Austen’s deep connection to both local and international waterways and the vessels that traverse them. The newly printed photographs, reproduced from Austen’s glass plate and film negatives, will be framed in John Noble’s signature handmade frames and will reflect on parallels between the artists’ visions.
Presented at The Noble Maritime Collection, located on the campus of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Center.
Noble Maritime Collection at Snug Harbor
1000 Richmond Terrace
Building D
Staten Island, NY 10301
www.noblemaritime.org
Picturing the Water is curated by Victoria Munro with collections assistance by Kristine Allegretti, Director of Collections and Operations.
Photoville 2023
On View June 3
New York City’s free premier photography destination is back! Returning for our 12th consecutive year, the annual Photoville Festival is excited to feature the return of our Photoville Village in Brooklyn Bridge Park with some of our classic shipping containers!
The Photoville Festival provides an accessible venue for photographers and audiences from every walk of life to engage with each other, and experience thought-provoking photography from across the globe — with free access for all!
This year the Alice Austen House will present six exhibitions showcasing Staten Island photographers, curated by Victoria Munro:
Jade Doskow Freshkills, Gerard Franciosa Sound of Shadows, Nathan Kensinger Hidden Staten Island, Jean Marques Reflections on Harbour, Nguan All The Dreamers and Zahra Pars We Are Too Dull-Eyed To See
Past Exhibitions
Upcoming Exhibitions

Heap-O-Livin: Lora Webb Nichols
Opening late october 2023
Official Opening celebration to be held Saturday November 4th from 1-4pm with the curator Nicole Jean Hill and archivist and Heap-O-Livin resident, Nancy Anderson present.
The Alice Austen House known affectionately as ‘Clear Comfort’ by the Austen Family will host an exhibition exploring the theme of home in the work of photographer Lora Webb Nichols in the fall of 2023. The exhibition will be curated by Nicole Jean Hill and supported by the Alice Austen House.
Get a glimpse of the exhibition through our recent virtual artist talk supported by Humanities New York.