Ansel Adams (United States, 1902-1984). Thundercloud, North Palisade, Kings Canyon National Park, California, 1932-33. Gelatin silver print, image: 7 1/16 x 4 15/16 in. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: Ansel Adams Archive, 84.90.715, © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust.
Upcoming exhibition
March 14 – August 2, 2026
Located on the third floor of The Baker Museum
This exhibition offers insight into how Ansel Adams arrived at the powerful, mature visual language he used from the 1940s onward. It begins with Adams’ first photographs of Yosemite National Park, which he took in 1916 as a 14-year-old tourist from San Francisco.
How did a teenage snap-shooter from the city become a virtuosic cameraperson, darkroom technician, expert mountaineer, enterprising visual artist, and committed advocate for conservation in the United States? Drawn from the extensive Ansel Adams Archive at the University of Arizona’s Center for Creative Photography, this exhibition presents a rich collection of photographs, documents, and personal artifacts, offering a rare window into the formative years of Adams’ career.
Visitors will follow his progression from early experimentation to mastery, witnessing the pivotal moments that shaped his approach to photography. The exhibition explores Adams’ transition from soft-focus Pictorialist influences to the sharply detailed style of Group f/64, his successful commercial venture and his professional work in Yosemite, where he refined his ability to depict the natural wonders that captivated him. Through these experiences, Adams forged a visual language that defined his career and cemented his role as an advocate for landscapes in the United States. His photographs, technical innovations, and artistic choices offer a compelling look at how he transformed his passion into a lifelong mission to capture and protect the natural world.
Visit The Baker Museum
Reserve your museum tickets online.
Museum Admission
Selected Works
Ansel Adams (United States, 1902–1984), Rock Formations, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, ca. 1947, gelatin silver print, 15 3/8 x 19 in. (39.1 x 48.3 cm). Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: Ansel Adams Archive, 76.83.86, © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust.
Ansel Adams (United States, 1902–1984), Georgia O'Keeffe and Orville Cox, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, 1937, gelatin silver print, 7 1/2 x 10 9/16 in. (19.1 x 26.9 cm). Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: Ansel Adams Archive, 84.89.348, © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust.
Ansel Adams (United States, 1902-1984). Frozen Lake and Cliffs, Sierra Nevada, Sequoia National Park, California, 1932. Gelatin silver print, image 7 5/16 x 9 in. (18.5 x 22.9 cm). Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: Ansel Adams Archive, 84.93.3, © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust.
Community Spotlight:
Brian Zepeda
Through a Community Spotlight section, local landscape photographer Brian Zepeda (Seminole, b. 1971) will exhibit his work, adding local resonance and expanding the presented narrative. As an Indigenous photographer, Zepeda offers a distinct gaze that broadens the scope of the exhibition, introducing perspectives rooted in his cultural identity and lived experiences. His work challenges conventional representations of landscape photography, highlighting alternative ways of seeing, interpreting and connecting with the land. By including his voice, the exhibition engages in an evolving dialogue about place, history and identity — enriching the conversation with viewpoints that expand and diversify the narrative in ways that are deeply relevant today.
Associated Events
Photography Portfolio Review
Discovering Ansel Adams Community Spotlight: Brian Zepeda
Friday, March 20, 5pm
John and Jeanne Rowe Performance and Learning Center
Brian Zepeda, photographer
Join local photographer Brian Zepeda (Seminole, 1971) for a portfolio review session designed for aspiring photographers. Gain valuable feedback on your work, discover new perspectives and learn about his creative practice. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to advance your journey as a photographer.
Brian Zepeda (Seminole, b. 1971). Ghost Orchid (detail), 2006. Digital photograph on aluminum. Courtesy of the artist. © Brian Zepeda.
© Sean Deckert
Exhibition Lecture
Discovering Ansel Adams
Friday, April 24, 6pm
Ubben Signature Event Space
Rebecca Senf, Ph.D., chief curator, University of Arizona’s Center of Creative Photography
Join Rebecca Senf, Ph.D., chief curator of the Center for Creative Photography, for a behind-the-scenes look at Discovering Ansel Adams. Learn how Adams’ iconic works were selected, interpreted and presented to illuminate his artistic legacy and lasting impact on photography.
Discovering Ansel Adams is organized by the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona, with the support of The Museum Box and curated by Dr. Rebecca Senf. This presentation at Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum is curated by Dianne Brás-Feliciano, Ph.D., curator of modern art.