Bruce Davidson

Biography
Untitled (Ladies at Counter), from A Time of Change
Untitled (Ladies at Counter), from A Time of Change
BRUCE DAVIDSON (b. 1933 Oak Park, Illinois) began photography as a boy at the age of ten. While attending Rochester Institute of Technology and Yale University he continued to further his knowledge and develop his passion.  He was later drafted into the army and stationed near Paris where he met Henri Cartier-Bresson. When he left military service in 1957, Davidson worked as a freelance photographer for Life Magazine and in 1958 became a full member of Magnum Photos. From 1958 to 1961 he created such seminal bodies of work as The Dwarf, Brooklyn Gang, and Freedom Rides. In 1962 Davidson received a Guggenheim Fellowship to photograph what became a profound documentation of the American Civil Rights Movement, the highly acclaimed work known as Time of Change. In 1966 he was awarded the first grant for photography from the National Endowment for the Arts, having spent two years bearing witness to the dire social conditions on one block in East Harlem. This work was first published by Harvard University Press in 1970, under the title East 100th Street. In 1980 he captured the vitality of the New York Metro’s underworld that was later published in his book Subway and exhibited at the International Center for Photography in 1982. Other series include Central Park, Circus, Scotland/England, The Nature of LA, and more.
Classic bodies of work from Mr. Davidson’s 50-year career have been extensively published in monographs and are included in many major public and private fine art collections around the world.
Download Artist's CV (PDF, opens in a new tab.)
Works
  • Untitled, Subway, New York, [Band-aid on Forehead]
    Untitled, Subway, New York, [Band-aid on Forehead]
  • Untitled, Subway, New York, [Blonde Hair]
    Untitled, Subway, New York, [Blonde Hair]
  • Untitled, Subway, New York, [couple by stairs]
    Untitled, Subway, New York, [couple by stairs]
  • Untitled, Subway, New York, [couple hair beads]
    Untitled, Subway, New York, [couple hair beads]
  • Untitled, Subway, New York, [Gray Hat]
    Untitled, Subway, New York, [Gray Hat]
  • Untitled, Subway, New York, [Man with jewelry]
    Untitled, Subway, New York, [Man with jewelry]
  • Untitled, Subway, New York, [Orange pants]
    Untitled, Subway, New York, [Orange pants]
  • Untitled, Subway, New York, [Purple dress]
    Untitled, Subway, New York, [Purple dress]
  • Untitled, Subway, New York, [Red tracksuit]
    Untitled, Subway, New York, [Red tracksuit]
  • Untitled, Subway, New York, [Snowy Street out Window]
    Untitled, Subway, New York, [Snowy Street out Window]
  • Untitled, Subway, New York, [train passing cemetery]
    Untitled, Subway, New York, [train passing cemetery]
  • Untitled, Subway, New York, [woman folded arms]
    Untitled, Subway, New York, [woman folded arms]
  • Untitled, Subway, New York, [Yellow pants]
    Untitled, Subway, New York, [Yellow pants]
  • Averill Avenue San Pedro, Los Angeles, California
    Averill Avenue San Pedro, Los Angeles, California
  • Los Angeles, California (Landscape and pool)
    Los Angeles, California (Landscape and pool)
  • Mulholland Highway, Los Angeles, California
    Mulholland Highway, Los Angeles, California
  • Santa Monica Beach, Los Angeles, California
    Santa Monica Beach, Los Angeles, California
  • Santa Monica Beach, Los Angeles, California
    Santa Monica Beach, Los Angeles, California
  • Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California
    Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California
  • Subway Portrait, NYC
    Subway Portrait, NYC
  • Untitled [children looking through chicken wire]
    Untitled [children looking through chicken wire]
  • Untitled [child in diapers on sill with fan], from the series East 100 Street
    Untitled [child in diapers on sill with fan], from the series East 100 Street
  • Untitled [nude on bed with child], from the series, East 100 Street
    Untitled [nude on bed with child], from the series, East 100 Street
  • Untitled [pregnant nude on bed], from the series East 100 Street
    Untitled [pregnant nude on bed], from the series East 100 Street
  • Untitled [twins in dresses on white couch], from the series East 100 Street
    Untitled [twins in dresses on white couch], from the series East 100 Street
  • Untitled [young couple, girl in head scarf],from the series East 100 Street
    Untitled [young couple, girl in head scarf],from the series East 100 Street
  • Untitled [young woman on bed with heart on wall]
    Untitled [young woman on bed with heart on wall]
  • Untitled [Children in Alley], East 100th St.
    Untitled [Children in Alley], East 100th St.
  • Untitled [Couple Dancing Near Juke Box with Flag and JFK], East 100th St.
    Untitled [Couple Dancing Near Juke Box with Flag and JFK], East 100th St.
  • Untitled [Guys Posing with Girlfriends on Front Stoop], East 100th Street
    Untitled [Guys Posing with Girlfriends on Front Stoop], East 100th Street
  • Untitled (Los Angeles bikini girl at beach)
    Untitled (Los Angeles bikini girl at beach)
  • Untitled [at the chalkboard], Selma, AL, A Time of Change
    Untitled [at the chalkboard], Selma, AL, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [long column of marchers, jeeps], Selma March, A Time of Change
    Untitled [long column of marchers, jeeps], Selma March, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [man in cowboy hat under lights, elderly woman seated], Voter Registration, Alabama, A Time of Change
    Untitled [man in cowboy hat under lights, elderly woman seated], Voter Registration, Alabama, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [marcher with VOTE on forehead], Selma March, A Time of Change
    Untitled [marcher with VOTE on forehead], Selma March, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [marchers], Selma March, A Time of Change
    Untitled [marchers], Selma March, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [MLK leading marchers], Montgomery, AL, A Time of Change
    Untitled [MLK leading marchers], Montgomery, AL, A Time of Change
  • Los Angeles, California
    Los Angeles, California
  • Los Angeles, California
    Los Angeles, California
  • Los Angeles, California
    Los Angeles, California
  • Los Angeles, California
    Los Angeles, California
  • Los Angeles, California
    Los Angeles, California
  • Los Angeles, California
    Los Angeles, California
  • Los Angeles, California
    Los Angeles, California
  • Los Angeles, California
    Los Angeles, California
  • Man walking by large parking lot, Los Angeles
    Man walking by large parking lot, Los Angeles
  • Parking lot on Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, California
    Parking lot on Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, California
  • Untitled [man's feet held by police as he is dragged], CORE convention at the World's Fair, A Time of Change
    Untitled [man's feet held by police as he is dragged], CORE convention at the World's Fair, A Time of Change
  • Woman walking along, Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
    Woman walking along, Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
  • Untitled [clapping, pointing marchers], March on Washington, DC, A Time of Change
    Untitled [clapping, pointing marchers], March on Washington, DC, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [group sings], Birmingham, AL, A Time of Change
    Untitled [group sings], Birmingham, AL, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [marcher with bedroll cheered on by woman in scarf], Mississippi, A Time of Change
    Untitled [marcher with bedroll cheered on by woman in scarf], Mississippi, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [policeman hides while protestors are hosed], Birmingham, AL, A Time of Change
    Untitled [policeman hides while protestors are hosed], Birmingham, AL, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [seated marcher encircled by rednecks], Mississippi, A Time of Change
    Untitled [seated marcher encircled by rednecks], Mississippi, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [cleaning the White Only sign], Hampton, VA, A Time of Change
    Untitled [cleaning the White Only sign], Hampton, VA, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [couple dancing by jukebox, balloons], Chicago, A Time of Change
    Untitled [couple dancing by jukebox, balloons], Chicago, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [glowing man in front of metal wall, two stripes of light], New York City, A Time of Change
    Untitled [glowing man in front of metal wall, two stripes of light], New York City, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [hugging couples, ferris wheel], Coney Island, A Time of Change
    Untitled [hugging couples, ferris wheel], Coney Island, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [kids on fire-escape, laundry], Harlem, A Time of Change
    Untitled [kids on fire-escape, laundry], Harlem, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [man with dolly in snowstorm on street], New York City, A Time of Change
    Untitled [man with dolly in snowstorm on street], New York City, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [MLK in a throng, unphased], Birmingham, AL, A Time of Change
    Untitled [MLK in a throng, unphased], Birmingham, AL, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [Mother Brown on ferry], New York City, A Time of Change
    Untitled [Mother Brown on ferry], New York City, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [young girl in white dress, plant], New York City, A Time of Change
    Untitled [young girl in white dress, plant], New York City, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [child with balloon hat, Dad], New York City, A Time of Change
    Untitled [child with balloon hat, Dad], New York City, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [circle with raised hands], Montgomery, AL, A Time of Change
    Untitled [circle with raised hands], Montgomery, AL, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [girl encircled by soldiers], Alabama, A Time of Change
    Untitled [girl encircled by soldiers], Alabama, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [MLK and man with bandaged head], MLK and John Lewis, Montgomery, AL, A Time of Change
    Untitled [MLK and man with bandaged head], MLK and John Lewis, Montgomery, AL, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [nanny, child, stroller], Central Park, A Time of Change
    Untitled [nanny, child, stroller], Central Park, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [soldiers on the bus, bayonets raised], Alabama, A Time of Change
    Untitled [soldiers on the bus, bayonets raised], Alabama, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [woman looks out the window, mouth agape], Montgomery, AL, A Time of Change
    Untitled [woman looks out the window, mouth agape], Montgomery, AL, A Time of Change
  • Untitled [Boy looking out subway window], Brooklyn, New York
    Untitled [Boy looking out subway window], Brooklyn, New York
  • Untitled [couple by gate at night], Brooklyn Gang
    Untitled [couple by gate at night], Brooklyn Gang
  • Untitled [Girl Combing Hair in Mirror at Coney Island Bath House], Brooklyn Gang
    Untitled [Girl Combing Hair in Mirror at Coney Island Bath House], Brooklyn Gang
  • Untitled [girl sitting on boy's lap], Brooklyn Gang
    Untitled [girl sitting on boy's lap], Brooklyn Gang
  • Untitled [Pinning Hair at Jukebox], Brooklyn Gang
    Untitled [Pinning Hair at Jukebox], Brooklyn Gang
  • Untitled [Stickball], Brooklyn Gang
    Untitled [Stickball], Brooklyn Gang
  • Untitled [Stickball], Brooklyn Gang
    Untitled [Stickball], Brooklyn Gang
  • Untitled [Stickball], Brooklyn Gang
    Untitled [Stickball], Brooklyn Gang
  • Untitled [Stickball], Brooklyn Gang
    Untitled [Stickball], Brooklyn Gang
  • Untitled [young couple kissing], Brooklyn Gang
    Untitled [young couple kissing], Brooklyn Gang
  • Untitled [Young woman smoking cigarette in Prospect Park], Brooklyn Gang
    Untitled [Young woman smoking cigarette in Prospect Park], Brooklyn Gang
  • Untitled [youth with coke machine], Brooklyn Gang
    Untitled [youth with coke machine], Brooklyn Gang
  • Untitled, Brooklyn Gang, [Jiving on Boardwalk]
    Untitled, Brooklyn Gang, [Jiving on Boardwalk]
  • Untitled [Flag in window], A Time of Change, 1961-1965
    Untitled [Flag in window], A Time of Change, 1961-1965
  • Untitled [Getting hosed], A Time of Change, 1961-1965
    Untitled [Getting hosed], A Time of Change, 1961-1965
  • Untitled [girl behind chain link fence], South Carolina, A Time of Change, 1961-1965
    Untitled [girl behind chain link fence], South Carolina, A Time of Change, 1961-1965
  • Untitled [Lady and policeman], A Time of Change, 1961-1965
    Untitled [Lady and policeman], A Time of Change, 1961-1965
  • Untitled, Los Angeles [Hollywood Sign]
    Untitled, Los Angeles [Hollywood Sign]
  • USA, New York City, Brooklyn Gang, 1959
    USA, New York City, Brooklyn Gang, 1959
Series
Exhibitions
Press
Publications
Enquire

Send me more information on Bruce Davidson

Please fill in the fields marked with an asterisk
Receive newsletters *

* denotes required fields

In order to respond to your enquiry, we will process the personal data you have supplied in accordance with our privacy policy (available on request). You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by clicking the link in our emails.