July 24, 2025
CLARK ART INSTITUTE PRESENTS A LECTURE
ON BERENICE ABBOTT BY PHOTOGRAPHER HANK O’NEAL
Williamstown, Massachusetts—On Sunday, August 3, the Clark Art Institute presents a lecture on Berenice Abbott presented by photographer Hank O’Neal in conjunction with the Clark’s exhibition Berenice Abbott’s Modern Lens. This free lecture takes place in the Clark’s Manton Research Center auditorium at 2 pm.
Few people knew Berenice Abbott better than fellow photographer Hank O’Neal, who worked with her for the last nineteen years of her life. In this lecture, learn more about the fascinating woman behind the images from a man who knew her not only as a towering figure in the history of photography, but as a friend and mentor. O’Neal has authored several books about Berenice Abbott’s life and photography, and will soon release a memoir titled You’ve Got to Do a Damn Sight Better than That, Buster: Working with Berenice Abbott 1972–1991.
Free. Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 458 0524. For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events.
Berenice Abbott (1898–1991) was one of the most important American photographers of the twentieth century, known for her pioneering documentary style, unpretentious compositions, and technical innovations. The Clark marks the 100-year anniversary of Abbott’s first photographs with an exhibition celebrating her portraits of people together with her “portraits” of places, paying particular attention to her portraits of queer individuals in 1920s Paris and her photos of the American Northeast. The exhibition is on view October 5, 2025.
Berenice Abbott's Modern Lens is organized by the Clark Art Institute and curated by Grace Hanselman, curatorial assistant for works on paper.
This exhibition is made possible by Denise Littlefield Sobel.
ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of nearly 300,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.
The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday from September through June, and daily in July and August. Admission is free to all from January through March and is $20 from March through December; admission is free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.
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