Between You & Me: The Camera Teaches, The Photograph Speaks

BETWEEN YOU & ME
The Camera Teaches, The Photograph Speaks

Analog prints that explore the learning process, the magic of the darkroom. Created between 2004 and 2007, these photographs bridge past and present, artist and community.

The exhibition traces Keim’s journey from her first trip to Poland in 1993, where she immersed herself in language studies in preparation for a Fulbright grant, to her return in 1994 as a Fulbright scholar documenting life in Poland. The collection also encompasses street portraits from Chicago to New York, each image a testament to Keim’s commitment to capturing the truths found in everyday moments.

Originally assembled for a 2007 exhibition at Blue Sky Gallery in Portland, Oregon, curated by Christopher Rauschenberg, whom Keim met at the Photo Lucida conference, the prints now find a new audience.

New City Art Review

BY SUSAN AURINKO | MAY 8, 2025

Practice What You Preach: A Review of Denise Keim at Chicago Center for Photojournalism
”Some of the images are just plain moving, for example, “Malcolm X and Gabriel Koren, Harlem, 1998,” in which a controversial bronze statue of Malcolm X stands, finger pointing, while the sculptor herself, shrouded in motion blur, walks past. It is these moments that make Keim so good at her craft—being there is only part of the magic, seeing what others don’t see is what makes this work so impressive.”

https://art.newcity.com/2025/05/08/practice-what-you-preach-a-review-of-denise-keim

For over two decades, Denise Keim has been a guide, mentor, and witness—teaching the art of photography while fostering a community of visual storytellers. Now, in a rare shift, the teacher steps forward to share her own journey, revealing a lifelong conversation between maker and medium, student and teacher.

Through the magic of the darkroom, these photographs are not just images but lessons—records of time, trust, and exchange. As one student, Greg Mizak wrote, "We see now through her eyes, and we have learned through her learning." Here, the act of making photographs becomes an act of understanding, where each image is an invitation to listen more closely.

Exhibition Dates: April 7 – June 15
Join us in exploring the energy that flows between photographer, subject, and viewer—the unseen dialogue that photography makes visible.

© Greg Mizak