© Stephen Shames

Stephen Shames spent over twenty years photographing young boys growing up in the Bronx. Although the project started as a simple photojournalism assignment, Shames quickly became fascinated by the neglected New York borough and continued to document the vibrant streets. The fruits of his labor are finally being published as a digital monograph titled Bronx Boys (FotoEvidence). The unconventional format provides universal access to readers from around the world, as well as options to zoom in on images for close viewing.

Stephen Shames worked with Aperture for his book The Black Panthers, commemorating the fortieth anniversary of the Party. The Black Panthers Portfolio, an accompanying set of photographs is now on sale! Visit the Black Panthers microsite.

Shames is founder of Lead Uganda, which puts AIDS orphans and child soldiers into school in Uganda. He is represented by Steven Kasher Gallery, New York, and Polaris Images. He currently resides in Brooklyn.

Bruce Davidson, Honoree Richard Misrach and Aperture Trustee Joel Meyerowitz

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A big thank you to all who attended Monday night’s Aperture Foundation 2010 Benefit and Auction honoring Steven Ames, Richard Misrach and Julie Saul. The evening was an amazing success followed by the happening Snap! Benefit Party, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of Aperture patrons.

Click through the gallery above to see the party pictures.

Photo copyright Stephen Shames

Aperture exhibition The Black Panthers: Making Sense of History, Photographs by Stephen Shames opens August 25th at The Haggerty Museum.

During the height of the Black Panthers party, from 1967 through 1973, Stephen Shames photographed daily operations, capturing the group’s public face as well as behind the scenes moments. His close friendship with the panthers, Bobby Seale in particular, allowed Shames unprecedented access and his photographs provide a rare and dynamic look at the social movement. A selection of this work was collected in the acclaimed Aperture monograph The Black Panthers (Aperture, 2006) and the exhibition The Black Panthers: Making Sense of History brings together silver gelatin prints from this historically invaluable body of work.

The Black Panthers: Making Sense of History
Photographs by Stephen Shames
Wednesday, August 25, 2010-Sunday, January 2, 2011

Haggerty Museum of Art
Marquette University
13th and Clybourn
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(414) 288-1669

Panthers listen to Huey P. Newton give a radio talk during Bobby Seale’s trial, New Haven, May 1970 by Stephen Shames

Photographer Stephen Shames‘ photographs taken during the height of the struggle for civil rights in America, will be on view in two upcoming exhibitions in Chicago and New York.

The Black Panthers: Making Sense of History, an Aperture exhibition will travel to The Dusable Museum of African American History in Chicago, presenting Shames’ behind-the-scenes photographs of the Black Panther Party. The exhibition opens this week and will include 48 of Shame’s photographs as well as Black Panther artifacts from the museum’s archive. This exhibition accompanies Shames’ monograph The Black Panthers (Aperture, 2006).

In addition nine of Shames’ images of Panther Party co-founder Huey Newton are included in a group show titled, Between the Bricks and the Blood: Transgressive Typologies currently up at Steven Kasher Gallery in New York.

The Black Panthers: Making Sense Of History
April 23 – August 6, 2010
Dusable Museum of African American History
750 East 56th Place
Chicago, Illinois
(410) 455-2232

Between The Bricks and The Blood
Transgressive Typologies
April 15 – May 8, 2010
Steven Kasher Gallery
521 W 23rd St,
New York, Ny, 10011

Click here to purchase Stephen Shames The Black Panthers

Click here to purchase a limited-edition Stephen Shames print

Click here to purchase the The Black Panthers limited -edition portfolio.

Come out to support LEAD Uganda Monday, April 6, 2009 at the Canal Room in New York City. A joint project from the Stephen Shames Foundation and Concern for the Future, LEAD Uganda provides educational support for Ugandan youth with a focus on leadership. Tonight, LEAD Uganda hosts a benefit concert and silent art auction at Canal Room featuring music from Atomic Tom and Nate Campany. Show your support for this important cause and have fun doing it! Tickets are $10, with all proceeds benefiting the foundation. If you are unable to attend, show your support through the organization’s website at leaduganda.org.

Check out the interactive FLYP Media feature on LEAD Uganda here.

LEAD Uganda Benefit Concert and Silent Art Auction
Canal Room
Monday, April 6, 2009  8:00 pm
285 West Broadway, New York

Opening at Steven Kasher Gallery in New York is an exhibition titled Childhood and Youth from world-renowned photographer and humanitarian Stephen Shames. Known for his documentary work on the Black Panthers, a long-standing theme throughout his career has been children.  Serving as great inspiration for his work both in photography and humanitarian pursuits,  Shames’ shares a personal connection to the youth in strife whom he often depicts, and classifies his work as cathartic.

In a sense, my photo work has always been related to fatherhood and family. I had a rough childhood due to an abusive relationship with my dad. I search through photography for what I didn’t have as a kid with my own dad; love, support, encouragement, etc. In my early work, I explored abuse and neglect. In my later work, I create a world, a family I could not have as a child. My work is a healing process for me.
-Stephen Shames

Considering the powerful images captured by this award-winning photographer, it’s obvious why much of his work has been inducted into permanent collections across the country. Shames has taken action beyond mere exposure in his formation of LEAD Uganda, a foundation focused on education for AIDS orphans and child soldiers.

Be sure to check out this evocative exhibition from an artist whose altruism serves as an inspiration to all.

A limited-edition portfolio from Stephen Shames is available through Aperture.

Stephen Shames: Childhood and Youth
January 22-February 21, 2009

Opening reception: Thursday, January 22, 2009  6:00-8:00 p.m.

Steven Kasher Gallery

521 West 23rd Street, New York
(212) 966-3978

© Stephen Shames

The Department of Photography & Imaging in the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts has announced the dates for an exhibition presenting approximately 75 works including letters, photographs, paintings, prints, video, and installation art by 50 artists who have transformed our understanding of identity, resistance, war and peace.

The exhibition will be on view in the Gulf + Western Gallery and in the 8th floor gallery of the Tisch School of the Arts Department of Photography & Imaging, located at 721 Broadway (at Waverly Place). Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. This exhibition is open to the public and admission is free. Photo ID is required when entering the building. For further information on the exhibition or any of its accompanying events, visit photo.tisch.nyu.edu or call 212/998-1930.

Artists, filmmakers, and writers in the exhibition include: Emma Amos, Tomie Arai, William Cordova, Bruce Davidson, Thulani Davis, Leslie Hewitt, Jessica Ingram, Builder Levy, Lorie Novak, Norman Parish, Jolene Rickard, Stephen Shames, Margo Machida, Elaine Mayes, Iris Morales, Paul Owen, Robert Sengstacke,  Bob Stam, Jamel Shabazz, Hong-An Truong, Carla Williams, Hank Willis Thomas, Carrie Mae Weems, Fran Wilson, and more.

This exhibition is currently on view through November 22. More Information.

The Black Panthers: Making Sense of History

Photographs by Stephen Shames

Coinciding with the exhibition at the Odegaard Library at the University of Washington, a panel discussion and gallery tour will be held on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary Reunion and Commemoration gathering of The Black Panther Party, Seattle chapter.

More info on the exhibition here.

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