Pitt-Bradford Arts will present a powerful photography exhibition offering a rare and intimate look at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from Jan. 20 through Feb. 12 at the KOA Art Gallery in Blaisdell Hall. The exhibition is free and open to the public. An opening reception will be held at noon Tuesday.

The exhibition features photographs by Benedict J. Fernandez (1936–2021), an American educator and acclaimed journalistic and documentary street photographer known for documenting the protest movements of the 1960s, including the Civil Rights Movement and the anti-Vietnam War movement. The photographs are presented through the courtesy of Fernandez and on loan from Manchester Bidwell Corporation.

Rather than focusing solely on public spectacle, the exhibition offers a deeply human portrait of King, capturing moments of pride, contemplation, and triumph. Viewers are also given access to scenes reflecting the tragedy surrounding King’s assassination, including intimate moments of introspection and grief, experienced by his immediate family. Together, the images suggest the profound personal and societal impact of King’s life and work.

Fernandez’s photographs place audiences within the emotional and historical weight of the Civil Rights Movement, revealing both its public urgency and its private cost. The exhibition underscores the enduring relevance of King’s legacy and the role of documentary photography in shaping collective memory.

The exhibition is presented by Pitt-Bradford Arts at the KOA Art Gallery, located in Blaisdell Hall on the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford campus.

For more information, visit Pitt-Bradford Arts.

https://www.upb.pitt.edu/life-at-pitt-bradford/pitt-bradford-arts