What makes a photograph special? That it provides a clear, static documentation of notable events worth cataloguing; for its artistic merit which, like a lightning-rod, can conduct particular feelings less abstract than those received from a painting or sculpture; or simply that it allows us to hold on to something physical, giving false permanence to the ultimate intangible force in our lives: time?
Boston’s Panopticon Gallery is one of America’s oldest spaces dedicated exclusively to the showing of photographs. Having bounced around the city over the past 54 years, the gallery is now located in the Hotel Commonwealth, and this February it opened a new space, The Wall, in conjunction with two exhibitions: “First Look 2025” and “First Look: A Second Glance.”
Alexa Cushing’s story at Panopticon began in 2018. After the retirement of the gallery’s previous owner in 2023, the MassArt grad became co-owner of the iconic space with fellow photographer, Connor Noll.
“My time at Panopticon has been driven by an unwavering passion for photography and its innate ability to tell a story,” she said. “While curating exhibitions for the gallery, I’ve been able to collaborate with incredible photographers, foster a space for both emerging and established artists and continuously explore the evolving landscape of fine art photography.”