Through Jun 21, 2026
MoMA
Face Value offers a revealing exploration of the intricate processes behind the 20th-century Hollywood star system’s construction of celebrity. Before the digital era, film studios meticulously crafted and manipulated photographic portraits of their contracted actors to cultivate glamour and public appeal. This exhibition delves into the pre-digital techniques such as silhouetting, in-painting, masking, sectioning, and collage, showcasing both untouched and altered images.
The show highlights how these editing practices extended beyond entertainers, encompassing sports personalities, socialites, and political figures, thereby reflecting and reinforcing the gender stereotypes and stylized motifs prevalent in the studio system. By juxtaposing original photographs and their press-ready versions, the exhibition demystifies the early visual strategies used to manufacture fame.
Featuring works from over 60 photographers and filmmakers, including famed figures like Andy Warhol, Face Value examines the photographic fan magazine archives that remain vital to understanding Hollywood’s visual culture. This meticulous look not only celebrates the artistry involved but also critically addresses the mechanisms of media fabrication that shaped public perception long before the advent of AI and social media.
