West Bend, WI – Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) in West Bend, Wi, is thrilled to present Lewis Hine Pictures America, an exhibition of vintage photographs by Lewis Hine. Drawn from the private collection of Michael Mattis and Judith Hochberg, the exhibition brings together some of Hine’s most powerful and enduring images including photographs of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island, child labor, the American worker, and the construction of the Empire State Building. Lewis Hine Pictures America is on view October 24, 2026 through January 17, 2027.
Heralded as the “father of documentary photography,” Hine used his camera to expose the harsh realities behind America’s rapid industrialization. His photographs gave visibility to immigrants, children, and working-class communities whose experiences were often overlooked, transforming photography into a powerful vehicle for change.
Hine also celebrated the ingenuity and talent of the American worker as an essential part of the industrial process, culminating in his documentation of the construction of the Empire State Building.
“Lewis Hine is considered one of the most significant photographers of our modern time,” said Dr. Jane Aspinwall, MOWA’s Deputy Director. “Hine’s use of photography as a vehicle to enact social change has influenced generations of photographers.”
Born in Oshkosh, Hine’s college education was steeped in the values of the progressive movement in Wisconsin and later with liberal educators in Chicago. As a staunch advocate for clean cities, safe working conditions, and fair labor laws, he became a teacher at New York’s Ethical Culture School in 1901 where he took students to Ellis Island to document newly arrived immigrants.
By 1908, he was the official photographer for the National Child Labor Committee, an organization advocating for child labor reform. Traveling across the country, Hine often disguised himself to gain access to factories and mills employing children.
Join MOWA for Lewis Hine Pictures America and experience firsthand the photographs that transformed documentary photography into a force for social change. On view October 24, 2026 through January 17, 2027, this exhibition offers a compelling look at a nation in transformation through the eyes of one of America’s most influential photographers.
IMAGE CREDIT
Lewis Hine, American (1874–1940). Powerhouse Mechanic, 1920-21. Gelatin silver print.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART
A vital cultural center, educational institution, and an expanding network of ideas, the Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) collects and interprets American art through the lens of a single state. Informed by dynamic initiatives and collaborations, MOWA is an innovative forum for contemporary artists, socially relevant exhibitions, lectures by artists and industry experts, and engaging classes and activities for all ages.
MOWA has two permanent venues—the West Bend “Mothership” and MOWA | DTN in downtown Milwaukee’s Saint Kate—The Arts Hotel—as well as two partnering community organizations that create access across the state. MOWA annually welcomes 225,000 visitors, making it a cultural destination for the art and artists of our time.
