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Arbus in the Age of Instagram

A huge new exhibition at the Park Avenue Armory, plus a gallery show in L.A., highlights the value of true photographic artistry in an era where everyone is wielding a camera, all the time.

Diane Arbus
Arbus, who died in 1971, is best known for her portraits of various subcultures—nudists, circus performers, strippers, transvestites, and socialites—capturing a cross-section of midcentury humanity. Photo: Roz Kelly/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Julie Brener Davich
June 6, 2025

In a world where digital images are ubiquitous and everyone has a camera, it’s no surprise that appreciation for film photography has waned, especially among younger generations. But Constellation, an exhibition of 454 photographs by Diane Arbus that opened yesterday at the Park Avenue Armory, reminds viewers that photography is a singular and tactile art form. Ironically, the curator, Matthieu Humery, accomplishes that in part by making the exhibition an immersive, Instagrammable experience.