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Best in Show

Pets in Contemporary Photography

A photograph of a Dalmatian in a speckled white cone, against a vibrant red background.
Collagio, Cone of Shame, 2017 © Winnie Au

Explore the role our furry (and feathered) friends have played in culture and how they stand in as representations of status, power, loyalty, compassion and companionship through the perspectives of 25 global artists.

Side-by-side photographs of a dog and man, both with long hair flowing in the wind. Against a pink background.
Henry and Hope © Gerrard Gethings
A photograph of a child in bed, hugging a hairless cat
Tower, Amelia and Jacob, 2006 © Robin Schwartz
A photograph of a trio of yellow and blue birds
The Tweets, 2019 from series High Society © Leila Jeffreys
A photograph of a hamster in a white doll house against a bright blue background
Lana, 2017 © Winnie Au

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Among the works on view are examples by William Wegman, famed for his portraits of his Weimaraners; Walter Chandoha, the world’s first professional cat photographer; and Sophie Gamand, known for her touching, sensitive photographs of dogs taking baths.

With this exhibition we want to celebrate and acknowledge our constant companions, their presence in Western art and popular culture, and our multifaceted relationship with them. We place these animals on a pedestal, and consider them from all perspectives: as life partners, status symbols, friends and family members, and as works of art.

“Our mutual dependence leads to the question, who owns whom? This exhibition brings together celebrated New Yorkers and an international roster of contemporary practitioners to explore our relationship to our pets, in all its complexity.”
Sophie Wright, Executive Director, Fotografiska New York

THE ARTISTS

Akseli Valmunen
Areca Roe
Carli Davidson
Dolly Faibyshev
Elliott Erwitt
Gerrard Gethings
Heather Phillipson
Hellen van Meene
Jeff Koons
John Hiltunen
Kári Björn
Leila Jeffreys
Lisa Strömbeck
Martin Parr
Martin Usborne
Ralph Hargarten
Robert Bahou
Robin Schwartz
Sage Sohier
Sophie Gamand
Tim Flach
Visarute Angkatavanich
Walther Chandoha
William Wegman
Winnie Au

Shop the Collection

Explore items inspired by the Best In Show exhibition at Fotografiska New York.

Long haired man and long haired dog posing similarly on pink background.
Poster

Do You Like Your Dog, 2018 Poster

Collage of nine wet dogs
Shop the Collection

View the full selection inspired by the exhibition.